CROATIAN PRIME MINISTER REJECTS JUSTICE MINISTER'S RESIGNATION

ZAGREB, March 6 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Nikica Valentic has rejected the March 3 resignation of Justice Minister Ivica Crnic. This was announced in a statement by Valentic, released today by the Government Public Relations Office. "Ivica Crnic has very correctly discharged his duties as the Justice Minister for almost three years. "During that time he did an important job in legislation, the overall reform of the legal system and the establishment of the rule of law. "As the Minister of Justice, Crnic advocated the consistent implementation of the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Croatia. "In view of the current situation in the judiciary and the election of State Judicial Council judges, he pointed to formal mistakes which were made. "The Government of the Republic of Croatia, headed by me, has so far always defended in principle the views of its ministers, which ensured the overall effectiveness of the Government's work and the active autonomy of ministers. "For these reasons I do not accept the resignation of Justice Minister Ivica Crnic. "However, because of the complex situation in the Republic of Croatia at this historic moment and because of the difficult situation in its judiciary, I am willing to reconsider the resignation of Minister Crnic but only as part of the overall resolution of the situation in the judiciary on the constitutional and legal basis and with personnel who would guarantee both the formal and real independence of the judiciary as one of the fundamental powers in any country ruled by law," the statement concluded. (hina) vm jn 061822 MET mar 95