CROATIAN PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES GOVERNMENT RESHUFFLE

ZAGREB, Dec 16 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa announced a Government reshuffle at Monday's regular Government meeting with reporters. "I am going to submit a proposal to this effect to the President of the Republic today or tomorrow," Matesa announced. The Prime Minister is contemplating the following changes: at President Tudjman's wish, the Minister of the Interior, Ivan Jarnjak, is to take up a senior position in the National Security Office, and is to be replaced by Ivan Penic, currently Minister of Privatisation. Penic in turn would be replaced by Milan Kovac, current head of the Croatian Privatisation Fund. Current Water Resources Management director Marko Sirac is to be appointed Minister of Urban Planning, Construction and Housing, replacing Marina Matulovic-Dropulic who doubles as Mayor of Zagreb. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Matej Jankovic is to be replaced by Zlatko Dominikovic, manager of a Vrbovec-based integrated industrial farm. "Of all Government members, Ivan Jarnjak has served the longest term of office and has made an important contribution to Croatian army and police liberation operations," Matesa said. The low crime incidence in Croatia also bore witness to his achievements as Minister of the Interior, Matesa said. "Ivan Penic, who is to replace Jarnjak, is also a very capable, reasonable and honest man who can take up Jarnjak's work where he left off," Matesa said. In view of his professional and other abilities, Milan Kovac was a logical choice for the demanding job of Privatisation Minister, Matesa said. As for the Ministry of Urban Planning, Construction and Housing, it had become very difficult for Ms Matulovic-Dropulic to juggle her obligations as Minister and as Zagreb Mayor, Matesa said. In view of the fact that this ministry would have a much heavier workload in the reconstruction process, Marko Sirac was nominated, Matesa explained. The changes in the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry were motivated by the need to emphasise its export-import and profit- making orientation, according to Matesa. "Since the beginning of this Government's mandate, there have been speculations as to who would replace whom. But in the past year, the Government has acted as a compact and efficient body and there has been no need to change anything," Matesa concluded. (hina) as 161148 MET dec 96