President Ivo Josipovic told Croatian Television on Wednesday he expected the new government to meet the promises made in the election campaign, primarily those referring to overcoming the economic crisis.
"I also expect a reorganisation of the defence forces, a successful completion of the European path, expansion of cooperation to countries outside Europe, and strengthening of regional cooperation and the tying of the loose ends from the past we have with neighbours, primarily Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina," Josipovic said in an interview.
He said he would support Prime Minister Designate Zoran Milanovic if the government's measures, regardless of their difficulty, were "rational and good."
Josipovic said he expected his communication with Milanovic to be simpler and different from the one with the outgoing prime minister, with less communication through the media and more eye to eye. "It is the constitutional obligation of the president and the government to cooperate and such cooperation will certainly exist."
As for Milanovic's announcement that he would withdraw several people from the President's Office to the government, Josipovic said he saw it as a recognition to his office and a contribution to the improvement of cooperation between his office and the government.
Asked to comment on next foreign minister Vesna Pusic's statement that new ambassadors should be appointed in January, Josipovic said he agreed it should be done as soon as possible but added that procedure should be respected. He said the procedure was not short, from the government's nominations to a debate in parliament and, finally, to his decision.
