RACAN: STRATEGIC GOALS MUST BE SET, PUBLIC RELATIONS IMPROVED (PT. 1)

BJELOLASICA, Sept 22 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan told reporters during an intermission of a Government session Friday that Government members had tried to define what is strategically important in its work and establish its strategic goals. The Government is holding a session at the Bjelolasica Olympic Centre. Racan said the meeting also focused on relations within the Government and about what must be done to make the state's administration more effective. We also spoke about relations between the Government and the public, with which we are not completely satisfied, Racan said, commenting in particular on reports from Thursday's Government session. The Prime Minister announced the initiation of thematic discussions along with existing regular Government sessions. Asked to comment on a statement by the Croatian Bishops' Conference expressing concern about acts of the Government concerning actions against war crimes suspects, which they considered as public intimidation and swaying attention from problems, Racan said the statement had to be read in its entirety, not selectively. He agreed with a section of the message which spoke about polarisation and threats of unrest, but dismissed assessments that the actions of apprehending war crimes suspects were aimed at intimidating the public and setting a red herring. However, he added he understood such impressions were possible. TO BE CONTINUED (hina) lml