CROATIAN PRESIDENT MESIC GIVES INTERVIEW

ZAGREB, Feb 20 (Hina) - Europe and the world recognised messages given in the run-up to the Croatian parliamentary election and my messages in the run-up to the presidential elections. I expect that steps which the Government, the Parliament and I are taking now will be noticeable very soon. Invitations for me to visit all 12 countries whose heads of state attended my inauguration on Friday are a sign that Croatia is opening its doors and that it enjoys the support both of Europe and of the world, Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic said in an interview to Hina. #L# The newly-inaugurated president announced that Croatia would soon become a destination for the capital necessary for its economy. We must do our best to create more jobs, as the aggressive employment is the pre-condition for all other solutions, Mesic said in the interview he granted on Saturday. Mesic stressed that he would advocate the speedy construction of modern motorways to link Croatia also physically with Europe, adding that the building of such roads should be conducted with concessions because it would take even 50 years for Croatia if the country tries to do it by itself. Present at the inauguration ceremony were 12 heads of state and over 60 foreign delegations and there were concrete proposals during the event. We discussed possible investments in the Croatian economy, Mesic said. The Croatian President was particularly pleased to receive the invitation of the United States' President Bill Clinton that he and Premier Ivica Racan visit the United States until June. Reiterating that the world and Europe recognised messages he gave during the campaign prior to presidential polls - and these messages accentuate the importance of Croatia's openness to Europe - Mesic said Europe could be preserved only as united. Rules in such united Europe will be made by consensus and each people will live in its entire cultural entity. It is all the same for one German, Hungarian, Italian, or Frenchman on which side of the border he or she is living and this will go for Croats, Mesic said calling on his citizens to set on entering the united Europe soon. The Croatian Constitution stipulates that the President of the Republic should once a year submit the report on the state of the nation to the Croatian national parliament (Sabor). Asked when the Croatian public can expect his address, Mesic said he should agree with the Premier and the Sabor on this issue. In any case, the report is likely to be submitted after first steps of the Government and the Sabor in order that the public be acquainted with what we have done, he said explaining that contrary to Croatia's first President, he will ask the Sabor to launch a debate after his address. Asked about his opinion on the share of women in the Croatian politics and what he can promise to a considerable number of women who supported him during the electioneering, Mesic said that regardless of the sex all should be equally treated before law. If women make up 52 percent of the population it will be very good that their representatives make up 49 percent in the politics, but here in Croatia it is somewhat difficult as we are still a conservative society, Croatian President added. He said it seemed to him that there were more women than men in his Presidential Office. In this context he added that civil servants and experts employed in the office would not be replaced. Only those who got the job thanks to political party-related reasons will go from the Presidential Office, Mesic said. The Council for Defence and National Security (VONS) will no longer be in the form it has been to date. It is impossible that a body of the executive power includes representatives of the legislative, judicial and executive authorities. If we have opted for the separation of powers (into three branches) - and we have - then councils must be set up in compliance with that rule: the Presidential Council and the Council for Defence and National Security should be part of the executive powers, Mesic explained. Asked to comment on the segment of his inaugural speech saying that "in the new, post-election Croatia there is no room anymore for such a 'sin of the government institutions'" and announcements that he would use his all Constitutional powers to fight against corruption and abuse of power, Mesic said it was a message to all state mechanisms to unite in the struggle against such evils that had prompted the message which highlighted 'the sin of the government institutions'. That was caused by the situation when some had both authority and might. We all must be equal and it is my message, Croatia's President stressed. Mesic commented on speculations that he would appoint Tomislav Karamarko (the head of his election headquarters) as the head of the Office for the National Security (UNS). In this context Mesic was asked to comment the statement of Drazen Budisa, the President of the Croatian Liberal Social Party (HSLS) that a member of the HSLS should take the helm of the UNS. Croatia's new president stressed that they all were in favour of de-politicizing the police, the military and thus intelligence services. Therefore competent people should lead such offices, he added. Mesic confirmed that there had been consultations on the appointment of the chief-of-staff of the Croatian Army's headquarters. He said the consultations would resume and declined to comment on possible candidates for that post. Mesic assessed there was too much talk about (the President's) Constitutional powers, adding that the Government, the Sabor and he should now concentrate on huge problems they were now facing. He said he would not use those powers that stemmed from the inflation of an extensive interpretation either of Constitutional or legislative norms. Everything else other can wait for a good debate led by experts, lawyers and finally a public discussion, he said. He also maintained that there was no sense to reduce the President's powers to protocol functions and symbolic duties. The President has legitimacy. Citizens chose me at the election in order that I should carry out the Constitution and some powers - important powers -must remain as it is the will of the citizens. Let the parliament decide what powers should remain, Mesic added. He said he would make all decisions in cooperation with the Premier and the Sabor Speaker. Asked whether the Dayton peace accords could exist for a long time in view of some demands both from the Moslem (Bosniak ) and the Bosnian Croat parties that the agreements should be revised, Croatia's President said he believed that, first of all, the Dayton deal should be completely implemented and it should be make possible for all refugees to return to their homes. The war was stopped, and peace should be established whereas Bosnia- Herzegovina should be organised so as to allow all three peoples (Moslems, Croats and Serbs) be constituent. Only after this is done and the economy is recovered, better solutions can be searched, he added. On the very first day after his inauguration Mesic went to the grave of Croatia's first President, Franjo Tudjman. Mesic explained this move of his by the fact that Tudjman was the first Croatian President and during Tudjman's tenure Croatia gained independence, and won the Homeland War. Therefore Mesic wanted to pay tribute to him. Mesic said he would stay in the current Presidential Palace as long as the Government did not find another solution. I will accept the Government's solution but it must be functional, Mesic added. (hina) ms