The meeting was attended by the Russian representatives of the ironworks' management board, representatives of the Croatian Metal Workers Union, the Croatian Association of Trade Unions, the Economy Ministry and the local government.
According to Social Partnership Office head Vitomir Begovic, all agreed Mecelj is having deep business problems and expressed willingness for cooperation and talks on the restructuring of the ironworks to continue.
Begovic said the management board was asked to submit by the end of next week a complete financial report for the 18 months Mecelj was active in Croatia, as well as a development plan for the ironworks, which he added were required if talks were to continue.
Begovic said the Russian owners wished to stay in the ironworks but demanded some changes to the purchase contract, notably a condition under which they must keep the current number of employees for the next five years, which they say is untenable. They also wish to provide for surplus labour by using a EUR3.6 million guarantee, and have asked to be enabled to use the ironworks' assets so as to take loans and invest in business, he said.
The owners have mentioned the possibility of forming a partnership with some other Russian companies, one Swiss or one Ukrainian company in order to overcome the current problems.
Asked what would happen if the Russian terms were not accepted, Begovic said the contract would be cancelled and the search for a new partner launched.