PAVLETIC APPOINTS RACAN CROATIA'S NEW PREMIER - EXTENDED

ZAGREB, Jan 27 (Hina) - Croatian parliament president and acting head of state Vlatko Pavletic on Thursday appointed Ivica Racan Croatia's new prime minister, and relieved Zlatko Matesa of the same duty. This is happening at an important moment, not only for Croatian politics, but for the Croatian state and Croatia's near future as well, Pavletic said. He said he was glad to be able to assert that the January 3 parliamentary elections and the transfer of authority had been carried out in an atmosphere of democracy and understanding, in keeping with electoral results and in the shortest time. Pavletic said the new coalition government was turning a new page in Croatian politics. Besides appointing Racan new premier, Pavletic today also appointed the other members of Croatia's new government, and relieved of duty the ministers which worked under Matesa's government. Racan thanked Pavletic, as well as Matesa and the members of his government, for the transfer of authority, stressing he was not doing it as a matter of form. "Our cooperation until this act today has shown that Croatia has made a coveted and necessary, but still insufficiently democratic step forward," said Racan. He added this was a good basis for many economic and political changes which the new government will have to effect for the benefit of democratic Croatia. "Neither does the world, nor history begin with us, or with the government I am heading," the new premier said, adding he would preserve the good the previous government had done. Racan promised the new government would do its part of the job, demonstrate its share of responsibility, and show Europe that it will solve issues through progress, and not reprogrammed debts. Former Premier Matesa thanked all who held ministerial mandates in his government in the past four years during which, he said, Croatia started as a post-war country and ended in European democratic processes. (hina) ha mm