PRESIDENTIAL CHIEF-OF-STAFF SUBMITS HIS RESIGNATION NOTE

( Editorial: --> 6843 ) ZAGREB, Oct 8 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman's Chief- of-Staff Hrvoje Sarinic told Hina on Thursday that on October 1, 1998, he had submitted his irrevocable resignation to all his state and party duties to the President of the Republic and president of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Franjo Tudjman. "Yesterday, on October 7, 1998, I had a conversation with the President of the Republic and concluded that the political decision on my removal had been made without waiting for the results of the investigation concerning my public statements made on September 25 and 26, 1998. Therefore, there is no reason whatsoever why I should not inform the public of my decision", Sarinic said. In an interview with the daily "Jutarnji list", which was published in two parts, the Presidential Chief-of-Staff accused the military intelligence service of following instructions by the Presidential interior affairs advisor Ivic Pasalic aimed at removing all those who think differently from the political scene . In his resignation note, submitted to President Tudjman on October 1, Sarinic claims that his "political statements made in the public have invoked very strong reactions in the HDZ, which put into motion the repressive party machinery in order to decide my political future. This, I cannot and will not allow". "I have agreed to discussions with colleagues and to confronting arguments, but I have resolutely rejected any proposed interrogations. All of this reminds of times and methods passed, which I believed we did away with for good". "Regardless of all the events and controversies caused by my statements, it is my wish to present my arguments and the information which prompted my statements at the session of the party Presidency or National Council", Sarinic said. At the end of the note, Sarinic mentions that he is leaving the political scene proud to have been able to give "a small contribution in carrying out the largest project in the history of Croats: that of the independent, integral and internationally recognised Croatia". (hina) jn rml/sp 081734 MET oct 98