RACAN: LEVAR'S ASSASSINATION SHOWS THAT WAR CRIMINALS FEAR

ZAGREB, Sept 1 (Hina) - Croatia's Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Friday announced "harsher action against crime and war criminals." The killing of Levar shows that war criminals have begun to fear as well as that after the war they still do flinch from crimes. The Government, however, will not be scared by threats of those who have good reasons to be afraid of punishment they deserved for crimes they committed, Croatian Premier told reporters in a break of Friday evening's session of the parliamentary bench of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) deputies and SDP members in the Government. Unfortunately, Croatia, just as other European countries, experienced the political terrorism with the murder of the Hague- based Tribunal's witness Milan Levar, Racan said promising that an expeditious and decisive probe into this death would be conducted. Commenting on complaints that the Government was indecisive in the fight against crime, Racan said that in the past period the Government did not want to take "a shortcut but to use facts". Dismissing claims of leaders of the strongest opposition party - HDZ- who said the current Government was responsible for Levar's death and who accused the Government of the inefficient work, Racan said it was tragic that those who had constituted former authorities were now calling the incumbent Government to account for this case, while they used to sweep under the carpet the establishment of and investigations into war crimes. "They should now keep silent," Racan stressed. Asked how long the Government would defend itself from criticism by citing failures of the former HDZ Government, Racan admitted that the period when the HDZ was in power was over, but sometimes it is good to remind what that party has left behind, he said. Premier announced the Government's comprehensive report on this summer's fires for the mid-September and in next two months protective measures will be proposed which should be taken next year. It is necessary to have better organisation but also to make all relevant factors conduct responsibly, he added. Speaking of the announced changes in the Government's work, Racan said that the coming two weeks would see intensive talks and critical analyses of the work of all ministries and state institutions. After that, we shall make decision whether there will be changes in the personnel, the Croatian Premier added. According to him, during this evening's closed session, SDP members discussed possibilities for better communication between the Government and the Sabor and for better contribution of SDP members to the work of the executive and legislative authorities. "The SDP is a responsible party within the ruling coalition, whose only alternative is a new election," Racan said adding that this evening they had also discussed preparations for the forthcoming party convention, set to be held for two months. (hina) jn ms