TRADE UNION URGES TALKS WITH GOVT. ON NEW STAND-BY ARRANGEMENT WITH IMF

ZAGREB, April 13 (Hina) - The Independent Croatian Trade Unions (NHS) have urged talks with the government following announcements about talks on a new stand-by arrangement with the International Monetary Fund, due to start on Tuesday.#L# In a statement issued today, the NHS said it considered inappropriate any new arrangements between Croatia and the IMF. "We warned the former government about the negative sides of stand-by arrangements with the IMF, of which the latest one, for which it was clearly stated that it would not be completed successfully, shows how much caution and preparation is needed for any agreement with the IMF," the union said. Claims that the new arrangement would be much stricter because the previous one was not implemented are unacceptable, because this could turn Croatia into a hostage to the IMF, the union said. Warning about the need to overcome the difficult financial situation in the country other than by taking on new obligations towards the IMF, the union said that social restrictions that may be imposed by the new arrangement would affect workers, employees in state and public services and companies, pensioners, war veterans, the unemployed and all socially disadvantaged groups. (Hina) rml