ZAGREB/DUBROVNIK, Aug 16 (Hina) - The government's measures for rationalisation are likely to create 'a heated autumn', but these measures must be taken, Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic was quoted by the Croatian Radio Dubrovnik as
saying on Thursday.
ZAGREB/DUBROVNIK, Aug 16 (Hina) - The government's measures for
rationalisation are likely to create 'a heated autumn', but these
measures must be taken, Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic was
quoted by the Croatian Radio Dubrovnik as saying on Thursday.#L#
"The rationalisation measures are necessary, but they must be
clearly explained and it must be said in which time terms they
should be carried out and which effects they are going to produce,"
the Croatian head of state said in his interview.
Mesic said the Ivica Racan cabinet must give convincing
explanations of the measures and also reach consensus with the
opposition and trade unions in order to avoid 'a very hot autumn'.
Commenting on the radicalisation of the Croatian political scene
and the 'the exchange of verbal assaults' between the strongest
ruling party SDP (Social Democrats) and the strongest opposition
party HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union), Mesic said the heightening
of tension was of no use.
Asked to comment on an 'all-Croatian' rally, scheduled for 24
August in Split, Mesic said he had received an invitation to attend
it, but he did not know the rally's organiser Zare Pehar and could
say nothing more about it.
Commenting on an idea, allegedly supported by 400 Croatian
intellectuals who have not so far been involved into politics, that
a kind of government should be constituted at that rally, the
President said it was frivolous, reminding that a government could
be set up only by those who win elections.
Speaking of the developments at the recent traditional tournament
'Alka' in the southern town of Sinj, when some spectators and
participants booed him and referred to him in derogatory terms and
when subsequently the society of Alka participants (VAD) decided
that this year's winner should not his gifts and when his envoy was
not allowed to hold a speech, Mesic said he had not yet come into
touch with the winner Ivica Peric, who, according to some media,
would like to apologise to the President and accept his presents.
"I do not know when I will receive Peric, but what I know is that I
will no longer tolerate such kinds of humiliations," the Croatian
president added.
Asked whether he would take disciplinary measures against this
year's Alkarian duke, General Ante Kotromanovic, who held a
political speech at the tournament, although he was an active
officer in the army, or whether he would let the defence ministry
address the issue, Mesic answered that it would eventually be up to
him to decide, but he had already given certain messages.
He dismissed allegations that he forwarded a letter to John Paul II
in which he complained about the political statements of some
Croatian Roman Catholic bishops. Mesic added that he had only
informed, through diplomatic channels, the Holly Father of the
political situation in Croatia.
The fact is that a part of the Croatian Roman Catholic hierarchy
accepts and supports demands of the most radical groups that
propose that we should not honour agreements we have assumed with
the international community and that we should not enforce Croatian
laws, but nobody has the right to do so, Mesic said.
He said that upon his return to Zagreb from summer holidays he would
meet Premier Ivica Racan and discuss with him the re-organisation
of armed forces and a draft act on defence.
(hina) ms