PREMIER MATESA INFORMS CRO GOVT OF MINISTERIAL CHANGES

( Editorial: --> 8630 ) ZAGREB, Oct 15 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa on Thursday informed government members of the new changes in the ministerial ranks. Matesa thanked outgoing Ministers Ivica Kostovic and Andrija Hebrang for their services while he welcomed New Defence Minister, Pavao Miljavac. Kostovic, the former Minister of Science and Technology was recently nominated as the President's Chief-of-staff. On his own behalf and on behalf of Government members, the Premier thanked Andrija Hebrang for his services. Hebrang on Monday resigned his post as defence minister which he has conducted since the death of late defence minister, Gojko Susak. Prior to that, Hebrang was the health minister. "I regret that a man with such high qualities as the health minister and as a person, is no longer in the Government", said Premier Matesa. Matesa added that he had attempted to find a way for Hebrang to remain in the government however, this could not be accepted by Hebrang. "In the wake of these events, I recommended to President Tudjman, that the new defence minister be Pavao Miljavac", said Matesa welcoming the newly nominated minister to his staff. In Matesa's opinion, Miljavac had a "victorious mentality for the defence ministry and will be capable of transforming the ministry to suit peacetime development in Croatia", he said. Discussions are being held with regard to nominating a new science minister concluded Matesa. (Hina) sp jn 151459 MET oct 98