RACAN, GRANIC HOLD TALKS WITH PRIME MINISTER MATESA

ZAGREB, Jan 10 (Hina) - Social Democratic Party (SDP) president Ivica Racan and acting president of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) Goran Granic on Monday held talks with prime Minister Zlatko Matesa on the current situation, problems facing the current government which the new government will also be facing. "We spoke about how to continue a series of talks until we definitely take over duties," Racan said after the talks. Racan and Granic described the talks as very constructive. "We are satisfied with the talks, its constructiveness, Matesa's and I believe the entire Government's readiness to contribute in this situation, to the benefit of Croatia, to a peaceful hand-over of authority to those who will continue the job," Racan said. He stressed that during talks on the constituting of the new government it would be important to assess what should be changed in the concept of the government and whether and when the Parliament should be engaged to make the changes legal. "After this we can discuss a precise date of constituting of the government. In the meantime we have a lot of consultations, not only with Matesa, but within parties which will be coalition partners in the government," Racan said. Coalition partners to the SDP and HSLS are the parties of the Opposition Four , Croatian People's Party (HSS), Croatian peasants' party (HSS), Istrian democratic Assembly (IDS) and the Liberal Party (LS). (hina) lml