The newly appointed deputy premiers and ministers said on Wednesday that one year was enough time to do a big and good job, thanking Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor for nominating them and MPs for voting for their appointment.
New Deputy PM Petar Cobankovic, who is also the minister of agriculture, said he was aware that "this is a watershed moment and that interest is focused on the economy."
"I will use my experience and knowledge and the energy that I have to work for the benefit of the Croatian economy, together with the PM and other colleagues whose departments are important for Croatia's economic development," he said.
Domagoj Milosevic, who was appointed deputy PM in charge of major investment projects, said one year was not a short time. "I know that Croatia and the Croatian economy have a lot of potential and many investment opportunities and I'm sure that we will exploit this potential."
New Deputy PM Gordan Jandrokovic, who is also the minister of foreign affairs and European integration, said this office was an obligation and a responsibility to continue strengthening Croatia's international standing, so that accession negotiations with the European Union could be completed and the accession treaty signed in 2011, which he said was the absolute priority of his department.
New Finance Minister Martina Dalic said she belonged "to those who think that Croatia can't lose even one day next year and that we should not bother that it is an election year."
She said the goals were clear - stepping up the economic recovery programme, coming out of the recession, and joining the EU, adding that a lot could be done towards those goals and that she would now get acquainted with the state of public finance.
"It's not important how much but how we work," said Branko Bacic, the new minister of environmental protection, physical planning and construction. He said he would try to put his ministry wholly in the function of sustainable development and new investments.
Bacic said he would move amendments to the law which stimulated the sale of flats in order to kickstart construction.
New Defence Minister Davor Bozinovic said he could step up reforms in the Defence Ministry, adding that he would dedicate himself to Croatia's international affirmation through that segment and opening possibilities for military industry exports.
New Culture Minister Jasen Mesic said he had been working at the Culture Ministry since 1997 and that he was "sure that we can pursue reforms and projects."
