ZAGREB, April 21 (Hina) - Croatia's Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa on Wednesday said that on the grounds of his everyday meetings and talks with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman he presumed that President was completely healthy. Matesa
said this in response to a question of a member of the parliament during the question time of the Croatian Sabor's House of Representatives. The Prime Minister, however, added that he was not an expert who could answer a question about the health condition of President Tudjman. Asked whether he is capable of leading the government when his ruling party is forming a shadow government, i.e. a committee of the presidential council, Matesa said the set-up of this body did not cause concern in the Government. The aforementioned committee has been established by the President of the Republic in conformity with the Constitution, Matesa explained adding that he is still directl
ZAGREB, April 21 (Hina) - Croatia's Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa on
Wednesday said that on the grounds of his everyday meetings and
talks with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman he presumed that
President was completely healthy.
Matesa said this in response to a question of a member of the
parliament during the question time of the Croatian Sabor's House
of Representatives. The Prime Minister, however, added that he was
not an expert who could answer a question about the health condition
of President Tudjman.
Asked whether he is capable of leading the government when his
ruling party is forming a shadow government, i.e. a committee of the
presidential council, Matesa said the set-up of this body did not
cause concern in the Government.
The aforementioned committee has been established by the President
of the Republic in conformity with the Constitution, Matesa
explained adding that he is still directly responsible before the
President and the National Parliament.
Answering to other questions, Matesa said the payment of pensions
for March had started. He added that every month the Government
invested great efforts in order to ensure the payment of pensions
since the Pension Insurance Institute lacked monthly between 42.6
and 50 million US dollars. This is the most serious problem in the
country and everybody should address it, Matesa told MPs.
If you think that my resignation would improve the situation in the
Pension Insurance Institute, you are wrong, Matesa said responding
to a question whether he would leave his post.
Several questions of MPs referred to the situation in the banking
system.
Relating to the Dubrovacka Bank and debts of the Globus Group
(amounting to 200 million German marks), the Prime Minister said an
agreement on settling the debts had been broken as it had not been
carried out. After that, other legal measures - court proceedings,
freezing, and the filing for the bankruptcy - were taken, he
explained.
Considering the Zupanjska Bank which is going into bankruptcy,
Matesa said the bankruptcy of other firms did not need to and would
not ensue afterwards.
In connection with a decision of German banks to cancel businesses
with Croatia, Matesa expounded that just a part of banks which did
business with the Glumina bank had discontinued cooperation.
Regarding the problem of 130,000 workers who are not receiving
salaries, the Prime Minister announced talks with trade unions on a
possible model for settling the issue such as a fund for risks of
unpaid salaries.
The Government has taken seriously the problem of genetically
modified food items, and as Croatia still has no acts to regulate
it, Agriculture Minister Ivan Djurkic announced the establishment
of two commissions which will propose adequate legal solutions.
(hina) jn ms