SDP'S RACAN ON POSSIBLE TAPPING OF ACTING HEAD OF STATE PAVLETIC

ZAGREB, Dec 8 (Hina) - Social Democratic Party president Ivica Racan on Wednesday stated an indicator of crisis in the institutions of the system was the possibility that secret services were wiretapping parliament president and acting President of the Republic Vlatko Pavletic. "Things are not well in a country in which there is doubt that even the one replacing the president of state is being wiretapped," Racan told reporters when asked to comment on Pavletic's announcement that he would investigate whether his office was being bugged. As the coordinator of the Opposition Six coalition, Racan said the coalition's representatives would not attend tomorrow's meeting with the leadership of Croatian Television (HTV), which was to discus pre-electoral campaign media coverage. Racan said the presidents of the parties making the Opposition Six decided not to attend the meeting due to dissatisfaction with HTV's approach to the matter in the past. They believe the approach in the past did not guarantee changes to the better in coming days or weeks. "We are voicing dissatisfaction with the evident, direct promotional function the HTV has in favour of the HDZ (the ruling Croatian Democratic Union)," said Racan, and announced the coalition would release a detailed statement on the matter tomorrow. (hina) ha mm