ZAGREB, Feb 9 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Ivica Racan said on Wednesday evening the Government was committed to fulfilling all electoral promises and added that stopping the increase of unemployment was one of its priorities. Following
a parliamentary debate on a Government's four-year programme, Racan said the Government would work toward fulfilling every single electoral promise made by the six-party coalition. "We in the Government don't want to go back on anything we have promised," Racan said responding to the criticism by Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) representatives that the programme offered nothing of electoral promises on increasing the living standards of citizens. The HDZ bench is the only bench which today did not support the government programme on changes. The Premier, whose government was given a vote of confidence today, repeated the Government wanted to drag the country out of the cris
ZAGREB, Feb 9 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Ivica Racan said on
Wednesday evening the Government was committed to fulfilling all
electoral promises and added that stopping the increase of
unemployment was one of its priorities.
Following a parliamentary debate on a Government's four-year
programme, Racan said the Government would work toward fulfilling
every single electoral promise made by the six-party coalition.
"We in the Government don't want to go back on anything we have
promised," Racan said responding to the criticism by Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ) representatives that the programme offered
nothing of electoral promises on increasing the living standards of
citizens.
The HDZ bench is the only bench which today did not support the
government programme on changes.
The Premier, whose government was given a vote of confidence today,
repeated the Government wanted to drag the country out of the crisis
and international isolation.
Racan said on several occasions the Government intended to stop the
unemployment rate from rising already this year, and that positive
trends in employment could be expected in the first two years of the
new millennium.
Responding to the Opposition's criticism, Racan said the
Government was no crisis headquarters or compulsory administration
and that it was aware of huge problems and responsibilities, but
also of Croatia's historical opportunities.
The Government is open to all constructive proposals and ideas and
it still has to work on its programme and present its finished
segments to the Sabor. The Government will try to reach a consensus
on strategic questions with all parliamentary parties, he added.
The new government has encountered a much more difficult situation
than indicated by official data and has been learning each day of
"some unpleasant facts, which will prove important already in a
debate on the budget," Racan said, declining to give any details on
the matter.
Responding to criticism by the HDZ regarding the Minister of
European Integration, Ivan Jakovcic, Racan said he strongly
supported all of his ministers.
The next session of the House of Representatives was scheduled for
February 23.
(hina) rml