LEADERS OF SIX-PARTY COALITION COMMENCE MEETING

ZAGREB, Jan 17 (Hina) - On Monday morning leader of six-party coalition that won recent Croatian parliamentary election, met to verify agreement on the manner of the functioning of the new House of Representatives and Government. They reached agreement last Wednesday with an aim to ensure a stable government and parliamentary majority. The concept has been proposed by the future Prime Minister Ivica Racan, and it is about regulating the work and ways for decision- making of the future Government as well as inter-party relations in the coalition. The document is about the structure of the Government and parliament and criteria for the division of authorities. The Six is expected to conduct the distribution of ministries and high authorities in the Croatian National Sabor this week. A basic criterion for it will be the electoral results, Racan announced. It is believed that the block SDP-HSLS (the Social Democratic and Croatian Social Liberal Parties) will assume 75 percent of ministries and authorities, while the block of four parties (HSS, IDS, HNS, LS) can get 25 percent. Vlatko Pavletic, the Sabor President and the acting President of Croatia, should appoint Racan as the new Premier on 22 January. In case some appeals against the course of the parliamentary poll be lodged with the Constitutional Court, Croatia will get the new Premier on 27 January. The lower house is expected to be constituted on 1 February. (hina) ms