CRO. GOVT. WANTS TO EARMARK MORE FUNDS FOR EDUCATION, SCIENCE

ZAGREB, Sept 4 (Hina) - In the draft budget for 2001, Croatia's government will work towards earmarking more funds for education, science, and culture, given their importance for the country's progress, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said in Zagreb on Monday. He spoke to reporters after visiting the Ministry of Culture, Education, and Sports, the first in a series of visits the government has announced to make this and next week. Racan said the goal was to visit all ministries, hold open and critical talks on their work, the government's too, and some reforms. The prime minister declined to comment on speculations about the replacement of Education and Sports Minister Vladimir Strugar. "Today we were doing important work, we didn't engage in speculations. We want to define what has to be done, then each one of us will say whether they can make a contribution or not, this is what is most important," he said. Racan added he would give a broader and precise evaluation of the ministries' work at a government session. "After six-seven months that both the ministries and the government have been in office, it is very important to give a critical evaluation of where we stand, what we have and have not succeeded in doing, and see which one of us can move forward and how," said the prime minister. He added the government was especially interested in realising what needs to be corrected in the work of each ministry, which measures need to be taken, and establishing priorities. Accompanying the prime minister on today's visit were his deputies Goran Granic, Slavko Linic, and Zeljka Antunovic. (hina) ha jn