ZAGREB, April 2 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Monday announced a decisive fight against organised crime and terrorism and emphasised that preventing their strengthening was a task of all - the Government, other
bodies of state authority, civil society, the media and the public in general. We have to be aware that organised crime exists in this country, that it also has international connections, and that only concrete measures and not debates can help in stamping it out, Racan told reporters in Zagreb at his regular, monthly news conference. "There are certain facts and indications pointing to the connection between people from the underground and organised crime and individuals and groups in the police and army," Racan said, adding it was not up to him, but the police and judiciary, to speak about this. The Prime Minister placed emphasis on the police, which he said had to be a
ZAGREB, April 2 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on
Monday announced a decisive fight against organised crime and
terrorism and emphasised that preventing their strengthening was a
task of all - the Government, other bodies of state authority, civil
society, the media and the public in general.
We have to be aware that organised crime exists in this country,
that it also has international connections, and that only concrete
measures and not debates can help in stamping it out, Racan told
reporters in Zagreb at his regular, monthly news conference.
"There are certain facts and indications pointing to the connection
between people from the underground and organised crime and
individuals and groups in the police and army," Racan said, adding
it was not up to him, but the police and judiciary, to speak about
this.
The Prime Minister placed emphasis on the police, which he said had
to be able to cope with organised crime or face consequences. Racan
believes creating an atmosphere of anti-terrorism in the public is
also important.
The prime minister said the government was working on a series of
bills, from one on national security to another on secret
services.
Answering a reporter's question, Racan said there was no one in the
government who could obstruct or bring to the statute of
limitations the process of cleaning up crime and plundering at the
Dubrovacka Bank.
He announced the possibility of abolishing obligatory military
service and added this did not mean a less efficient army and
defence.
There is a high level of agreement with the President of the State
and support from the public as regards this issue, however, the
actual course and dynamics of this change will be defined by a law
which is to be adopted, he said.
Answering a set of questions on economy, Racan announced the
forming of a special agency which should help business people and
investors obtain necessary documents faster.
Racan was convinced the current negative trend of unemployment
would reverse in the middle of this year. Within two months, the
government will introduce measures aimed at generating employment
and fighting grey economy, he announced.
The government has still not decided about the sale of another 16
percent of the Croatian Telekom to Deutsche Telekom, he said,
refusing to comment on different and even contradictory claims and
newspaper headlines on this issue until a decision was made.
How much the citizens will be burdened by taxes in the process of
decentralisation will depend on local communities (which will be
allowed to introduce surcharges or some new taxes), the prime
minister said. A total of 1.7 billion kuna will be allocated by
higher to lower levels of state authority for decentralisation in
school, health and social care systems, to start on July 1.
The government will soon present measures for stimulating a more
balanced regional development, especially in sparsely inhabited
areas, Racan said.
(hina) sb rml