RACAN, BUDISA: VISIT TO GREAT BRITAIN IMPORTANT AND USEFUL

ZAGREB, Oct 23 (Hina) - The leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Ivica Racan and Drazen Budisa respectively, on Saturday said they were satisfied with their three-day working visit to Great Britain, describing it as "very important and useful" not only for the two parties but also for relations between Croatia and Great Britain. "Our visit to London will certainly be another step in improving the Croatian-British relations", Budisa said at a joint press conference held at Zagreb airport upon their arrival. The two party leaders visited London at the invitation of Britain's Foreign Secretary Robin Cook. Racan said that he and his colleague had insisted in talks with British officials "on the need for a better cooperation between Croatia and Europe". Croatia is aware of the obstacles it has to overcome on its own, Racan said, commenting on the economic cooperation with Great Britain. However, he added, "we have also been given indications, even promises, that the other side would also contribute to improving economic relations and assisting Croatia in overcoming the current economic crisis". "We assured our hosts that despite the problems it is facing, Croatia has democratic forces which will ensure a democratic election and see that its results are recognised", Racan said. Commenting on what they both described as an "unclear answer" by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman to a "clear question" from a recent press conference for foreign reporters on whether he would accept cohabitation with the Opposition should it win the elections, Racan and Budisa said their parties expected from Tudjman to clearly state that he would accept election results. Speaking about the election of Constitutional Court judges, Racan said the treatment of such an important institution as the Constitutional Court by the ruling structures was "intolerably poor". The SDP participated in the initiative to elect Constitutional Court judges, hoping that their election would be decided through a consensus, as had been the case during the adoption of the Law on the Constitutional Court, he said. "The composition of the Constitutional Court is to Croatia's detriment and even a disgrace for the country, and the way the judges were elected is a disgrace for the Opposition", Budisa said, commenting on the same issue. The HSLS leader reminded that his party did not nominate its candidates for the Constitutional Court and that it believed members of the Constitutional Court should not be members of any party. SDP's Racan said he wanted to correct claims in some Croatian papers saying the British Ambassador to Croatia, Colin Munro, had advocated the concept of the western Balkans during a visit to London. Racan said those claims were misinformation which could cause damage to relations between the two countries. Asked about Croatia's cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, Budisa said the matter had not been discussed in detail with Foreign Secretary Cook, but rather in the context of Croatia's international obligations. (hina) rml