PM RACAN ON RULING COALITION, TOPICAL ISSUES

KRALJEVICA, June 4 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Sunday spoke to reporters in Kraljevica at the end of a two-day seminar of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), of which he is president, addressing relations in the ruling six-party coalition, and other topical issues. According to the prime minister, many difficult challenges are ahead of the SDP and its coalition partners. We now aim to straighten things out in our own and our partners' ranks, because under no condition must we allow the promotion of personal, group or party interests before general national goals, he said. We are now only warning about this, but if necessary, we will radically toughen up methods of preventing such intentions, Racan said. "The SDP acknowledges opposition to the government" because it is aware opposition is an important corrective to the ruling structure, he said. "We don't want opposition within the ruling coalition, even though we are consistently for argument-based and critical dialogue." Some of our coalition partners must not score political points at the expense of steps we must take but which are unpopular with the citizens, he added. The prime minister announced local elections would most probably be called for next April, when elections for parliament's House of Counties could also be held. The Upper House's role will certainly be redefined and directed towards the promotion of local and regional interests, he said. At the same time we will effect non-radical changes in the administrative-territorial organisation of Croatia. "A new law on local self-government will fortify its role by strengthening jurisdiction and sources of financing," Racan said. Asked to comment on a statement by Croatian President Stipe Mesic according to which persons accused for a war crime in the central Bosnian village of Ahmici should be tried in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Racan said it was possible but remained an open issue if those people are Croatian citizens. According to the prime minister, it is less important where possible perpetrators of war crimes are put on trial, but very important that they receive fair sentences for crimes they may have committed. Asked about a possible reconstruction of his government, Racan said the results of every minister, including his own, would be carefully evaluated after the government's six months in office, i.e. in two months. We shall then see if a reconstruction is necessary, but certainly no politician, government members included, can stay in office forever, he said. "I would very much like to have quality competition for my prime minister's position, and I would be favourably disposed to a competent person willing to assume this responsible and difficult job," Racan said. He added Croatia had historical prospects to progress in every field of general, national and state interest. "Such a chance must not be missed, and for its realisation we have to mobilise every resource. Joining the European Union and other international associations is a major objective and a difficult step, but is there an alternative for Croatia?" the prime minister concluded. (hina) ha