PREMIER RACAN APPLAUDS ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

ZAGREB, Nov 10 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan has said democracy in his country will profit from the adopted constitutional changes. A big step has been made in the strengthening of a parliamentary democracy in Croatia, PM told the Croatian Radio Television (HRT) news programme on Friday evening. This is about the fulfilment of the wish of a vast majority of Croatian citizens who voted for us on 3 January because of our promise that we would make a step forward in the enhancement of parliamentary democracy and definitely make it impossible for an individual to have the entire political power, Racan added. He voiced regret that the strongest opposition party - the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) - failed to use this opportunity to give its vote in favour of the constitutional changes. Nevertheless, a step forward has been made without its deputies' votes. Speaking of secret services, he stressed that he personally and the government were resolve in the stance that secret services would never again be used for the control of citizens and reporters. It is the task of the incumbent Government to draw up a law on national security which will regulate the security services' work and ensure democratic control over them, according to a statement released by the Government's public relations office. (hina) ms