ZAGREB, 1 Dec (Hina) - Saturday's issue of the Jutarnji List daily brings an interview with Prime Minister Ivica Racan on relations in the ruling coalition, early elections, a government reshuffle, tenancy rights, a proposal on church
taxes, unemployment and other current topics. Asked about relations in the ruling coalition, Racan said they were burdened by factionalism and opposition behaviour. "It seems to me that the issue of early elections, which was imposed by the Opposition, and occasional flirting with that issue within the coalition, has boomeranged against some coalition partners, who act as if an election campaign were underway. As far as the SDP (Social Democratic Party) and I are concerned, this mandate will be carried out entirely," Racan said, among else. Asked about a proposal on the introduction of church taxes, Racan said the contracts with the Holy See would not be changed and initia
ZAGREB, 1 Dec (Hina) - Saturday's issue of the Jutarnji List daily
brings an interview with Prime Minister Ivica Racan on relations in
the ruling coalition, early elections, a government reshuffle,
tenancy rights, a proposal on church taxes, unemployment and other
current topics.
Asked about relations in the ruling coalition, Racan said they were
burdened by factionalism and opposition behaviour. "It seems to me
that the issue of early elections, which was imposed by the
Opposition, and occasional flirting with that issue within the
coalition, has boomeranged against some coalition partners, who
act as if an election campaign were underway. As far as the SDP
(Social Democratic Party) and I are concerned, this mandate will be
carried out entirely," Racan said, among else.
Asked about a proposal on the introduction of church taxes, Racan
said the contracts with the Holy See would not be changed and
initiatives to that effect were not a negation of those contracts.
"This Government has respected and will continue to respect its
international obligations and contracts, including those with the
Holy See, and has no intention of changing them unilaterally," he
said.
Asked about his stand on the tenancy rights of Croatian Serb
refugees, Racan said: "We are not abolishing tenancy rights,
because they no longer exist. This is simply a matter of laws which
we must respect. Tenancy rights are not the same as ownership
rights. Tenancy rights allowed you to, under certain conditions,
live in a flat, but you did not own it. During the process of
transformation and abolishment of social ownership, those who had
tenancy rights were allowed to purchase the flats they were living
in. Some used that opportunity, some did not, regardless of
nationality. There are also citizens of Croat nationality who
cannot purchase the flats because they missed that opportunity. We
cannot therefore accept pressures by the OSCE and allow, contrary
to the laws of this country, the purchase of flats by those who could
have done it earlier, but did not."
Asked about a government reshuffle, Racan said those asking such
questions knew very well that his hands were tied when he was
setting up the government. "The situation would be the same in case
of a reshuffle." "Those seeking changes should say what kind of
changes they want and those urging the replacement of some
ministers should say who they should be replaced with. Until they do
so, I will consider (such requests) to be motivated by something
else," he added.
Speaking about unemployment, the Prime Minister said the situation
was improving. "The employment rate has been increasing and
unemployment decreasing. We are nearing the moment when the number
of those obtaining employment will be higher than the number of
jobless people. Developments are positive and this trend will
continue," he said, adding the government would announce new
employment measures targeted at the most critical groups in the
next two weeks.
Asked about his opinion on the work of State Prosecutor Radovan
Ortynski, he said the performance "of some of those holding
important offices, including the State Prosecutor, will be
discussed." "Until then, I would not comment on that," he said.
Speaking about the secret police files of citizens and politicians,
Racan said he did not advocate that they should be destroyed, except
if people they referred to wanted it. "Those who ordered tapping
have to answer. As regards the secret services, I am aware we did not
make the right moves. I regret that my attempt last year to disband
the secret services failed. That would not have threatened the
country's security, but put an end to a bad situation... It is up to
use to finally solve that problem and I believe this year we will do
what we failed to do last year," he said.
(hina) rml