PM ON STAND-BY ARRANGEMENT WITH IMF AND RELATIONS WITH CHURCH

ZAGREB, Feb 20 (Hina) - Croatia's Premier Ivica Racan on Tuesday evening asserted that there was no danger for the economic and financial independence of Croatia and nobody, neither the International Monetary Fund (IMF), would rule the country in this regard. "Nobody will rule Croatia, we shall run our financial and economic jobs on our own," Racan said commenting on speculations some media has made about a stand-by arrangement between Zagreb and the IMF, under which this arrangement means the end of Croatia's financial independence. Racan explained, in an interview he gave to the Croatian Television (HTV), that the stand-by arrangement, based on the Government's programme, would not only put 250 million US dollars available to Croatia but would also open the door for agreements with other financial institutions and other countries. Asked about the relations between the incumbent government and the Roman Catholic Church in the country, PM said he was generally satisfied. "There are no significant problems, although some occur when there is too much political passion at each side, just as recently, but it (such situation) is not dominant," Racan said. (hina) ms