HDZ SPOKESMAN COMMENTS ON RESIGNATION OF JUSTICE MINISTER

ZAGREB, April 9 (Hina) - The ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party spokesman, Ivica Ropus, on Friday expressed regret about the resignation of Justice Minister Milan Ramljak, stressing he was not acquainted with it. "From what I know about the work of Minister Ramljak, he performed his duties expertly, professionally and correctly. I have not been acquainted with his letter of resignation and I regret his resigning," Ropus told reporters following a HDZ news conference. He stressed he was commenting on the resignation "conditionally", as he had heard about it from reporters who had asked him for a comment on the issue. Ropus said he did not believe the reason for Ramljak's resignation was the fact that he was not a member of the Council for Strategic Decisions as vice-premier. Ropus said he did not know whether all vice-premiers were members of the Council. If Minister Ramljak was not a member of the Council for Strategic Decisions, then the fact must have been that he was to lead a ministry which, according to definition, has an autonomous position and which is, according to it position and function, independent, Ropus said. (hina) lml jn