ZAGREB, Jan 20 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman continued his Wednesday address to parliament on the state of the nation in 1998 by focusing on the realisation of a democratic state authority system, and on the state of the
judiciary and economy. "During the past year all the bodies of Croatian state authority operated in accordance with their constitutional and statutory powers," the President assessed. "(...) one of the fundamental tasks of all bodies of state authority was the continued promotion and development of Croatian democracy and of civil society distinguished by social justice." The President said that despite the recent war, difficulties of the reconstruction and the transitional period, "one may note a continuous, gradual, but also ever faster progress in the implementation and protection of the constitutionally guaranteed human rights and Croatian democracy as a whole.
ZAGREB, Jan 20 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman continued
his Wednesday address to parliament on the state of the nation in
1998 by focusing on the realisation of a democratic state authority
system, and on the state of the judiciary and economy.
"During the past year all the bodies of Croatian state authority
operated in accordance with their constitutional and statutory
powers," the President assessed.
"(...) one of the fundamental tasks of all bodies of state authority
was the continued promotion and development of Croatian democracy
and of civil society distinguished by social justice."
The President said that despite the recent war, difficulties of the
reconstruction and the transitional period, "one may note a
continuous, gradual, but also ever faster progress in the
implementation and protection of the constitutionally guaranteed
human rights and Croatian democracy as a whole. The foregoing
notwithstanding, we cannot be fully satisfied with the current
state of affairs in certain important areas.
"The justified dissatisfaction of Croatian citizens is occasioned
by the fact that negative manifestations, to which I have publicly
drawn attention on a number of occasions, are not being removed with
adequate rapidity and determination.
"This regards primarily red tape, arbitrariness and all kinds of
unlawful actions and abuses by state authority and public officials
(...) The different manifestations of corruption and economic
crime, which have not been reduced during the past year, are
particularly dangerous."
"The time of cautioning against such manifestations has passed,
because they are today particularly dangerous for the normal
development of Croatian civil society, as well as for the security
of the Croatian State. It is high time, gentlemen, to put a stop to
all abuses, to resolutely and promptly take every step for their
elimination, as expected and demanded by Croatian citizens and by
the supreme national-state interests," the President said,
bringing an applause of support from representatives of both houses
of the parliament.
"Once again I must remind all those, who have unfortunately
forgotten it too lightly, that this democratic, independent and
sovereign Croatian State has been created and defended by the
Croatian people for themselves and for all Croatian citizens."
Therefore, he said, Croatian state authority must perform its duty
"to the benefit of the people as a whole and of all citizens, rather
than to the benefit of specific groups and individuals."
"As Croatia?s Head of State, and within the scope of my
constitutional powers along with the help of all democratic forces,
I will do everything, you can rest assured, to make Croatia such a
state as soon and as fully as possible."
Croatia's interests "now demand greater harmony between the
citizens and the nation, and between the Croatian State and the
international community (...) The Croatian national interest
assumes the prevention of all social and state egotism, or
imposition of special interests, mainly realised at the expense of
the weaker. Today Croatian national interest demands a community of
interest involving all components of the Croatian people."
Speaking about the judiciary, the President said "the backlog in
the administration of justice is too great. The number of pending
cases has exceeded the figure of one million (...) Such conditions
are untenable because they affect not only the legal security of
citizens and corporate subjects but also the overall operation of
state authority. Radical changes are required in order to change
such a state of affairs as soon as possible."
"A continuous careful development and advancement of the system of
national-state security are required in order to assure the lasting
continuance of democratic Croatian authorities and stability of
the social order, and the physical protection of citizens and of
their property. This is a strategically important task,
particularly in the present-day globalised world distinguished by
general competition and engagement among many states and
superpowers focused on assuring their domination, and their
political and economic spheres of influence.
"The major importance of these considerations for the very
continuance of independent and democratic Croatia is well-
confirmed by the numerous and deliberate attempts - present during
the past year as well - to discredit and derange in particular the
key components of national-state security."
The President also pointed to the necessity of focusing "on more
efficient counterintelligence, the only proper response to the
ever more intensive activities of foreign intelligence and
paraintelligence services in many areas of social and state life of
our Homeland."
"The Ministry of Defence is faced with the responsible
implementation of its peace-time organisation without thereby
reducing the operational readiness of the armed forces. The main
effort should be focused on strengthening the defence policy
system, overall modernisation of armed force units, the
development of data processing and communications systems, and
advanced training. These are the foundations on which one should
look to alliances with the North Atlantic and European security
systems, but also with all friendly countries."
Speaking about the state of economy, President Tudjman said,
"Economic trends in 1998 were distinguished by a number of
accomplishments. For the first time since 1994 the stagnation of
exports was overcome. Accordingly, the record current account
deficit in 1997, amounting to about 12.5% of the gross domestic
product, was reduced to 7.5%, i.e., by about one billion US
dollars.
"Adequate economic policy measures are required in order to reduce
the deficit, within a foreseeable period, to about 3% of the gross
domestic product (GDP).
"The central budget surplus of (...) about 1% of GDP, is of
particular significance (...) The standard of living of the general
population has increased," the President said, also pointing to the
"the growing strength of the middle class".
"In spite of all the positive results achieved in the past period we
are still faced with certain very serious negative manifestations,
he said," Tudjman said, pointing out these were an insufficiently
rapid growth of production and employment, the growth of registered
unemployment, high illiquidity problems of growing complexity,
high rates of interest, crises in several middle-sized and small
banks, a high degree of different forms of consumption, the
inability of part of the management to promote entrepreneurial and
other business initiatives, "and, in particular, immoral
behaviour, bribe, corruption and inefficient administration of
justice."
The resolution of all these problems must be in the focus of the
overall state policy, economic policy in particular in 1999,
President Tudjman said.
In the continuation of his address on the state of the nation in the
past year, Tudjman spoke about the state of culture, health care,
the social policy, and sports.
(hina) ha jn