ZAGREB, Jan 29 (Hina) - The pre-electoral campaign has become characterised by attempts aimed at discrediting me from those who do not understand democratic confrontation, presidential candidate Stipe Mesic said on Saturday. Speaking
to reporters in Zagreb, Mesic welcomed the composition of Croatia's new government and supported its first moves. Asked if he was satisfied with Premier Ivica Racan's government, Mesic said he believed the members of the new government were competent men of honour who would respond to the current political challenges. He supported the government's first step, namely the reduction of state officials' salaries which, he said, was also one of the promises the coalition which won recent parliamentary elections made. Mesic said he was planning on meeting Racan to personally congratulate him on the electoral victory and the government's make-up. He also voiced satis
ZAGREB, Jan 29 (Hina) - The pre-electoral campaign has become
characterised by attempts aimed at discrediting me from those who
do not understand democratic confrontation, presidential
candidate Stipe Mesic said on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters in Zagreb, Mesic welcomed the composition of
Croatia's new government and supported its first moves.
Asked if he was satisfied with Premier Ivica Racan's government,
Mesic said he believed the members of the new government were
competent men of honour who would respond to the current political
challenges. He supported the government's first step, namely the
reduction of state officials' salaries which, he said, was also one
of the promises the coalition which won recent parliamentary
elections made.
Mesic said he was planning on meeting Racan to personally
congratulate him on the electoral victory and the government's
make-up.
He also voiced satisfaction with the recent arrest of Ivan Herak, a
former tourism minister suspected of abuse of position and power,
stating this was the first sign that Croatia had started
functioning as a law-based state.
Mesic said he would advocate a parliamentary system in which
parliament will establish the powers the president of the republic
will have. He left the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), the
formerly ruling party, because he demanded changes which would make
the government autonomous, the decisions reached by parliament
valid, and abolish parallel shadow institutions, he said.
Commenting on allegations that he was a collaborator of the UDBA, a
former Yugoslav secret service, Mesic said Ivic Pasalic of the HDZ
was behind them. He was shocked such allegations were made in times
of democratic transition.
Mesic's electoral headquarters today drew attention to a research
conducted by "Jutarnji List" daily, which in today's edition stated
Mesic was 11 percent ahead of Drazen Budisa, his counter-candidate
at the February 7 presidential run-off.
Mesic said Budisa's statement that the 1.2 million who voted for
Mesic at the first electoral round on January 24 had not been
serious spoke best of Budisa himself. "When necessary, I can joke,
but in moments important for Croatia I can be resolute, and I have
proved through my actions, protecting Croatian interests," he
said.
A spokeswoman for Mesic's electoral headquarters called on
Budisa's electoral headquarters to turn to their own presidential
candidate instead of Mesic.
"Behind Stipe Mesic there are neither suspect people, nor suspect
money," the spokeswoman said. Mesic said he would submit an
integral report on the financing of his presidential campaign even
though he was not bound to do so by law, and without waiting for
Budisa to do the same.
"My electoral campaign is not against anyone, but for Croatia,
which should be just and strong within the European Union and NATO,"
Mesic said.
(hina) ha