GOVT. CONCLUDES ACHIEVEMENTS IN PAST TWO YEARS SURPASS PLANS

ZAGREB, Feb 7 (Hina) - Many of the basic goals set in the government's programme for the 2000-4 period have been achieved by the end of the first half of the mandate, according to a report on the two-year performance of the Ivica Racan Cabinet which the government discussed on Thursday. These achievements include Croatia's improved political and financial standing, the creation of foundations for the encouragement of economic growth and development, significantly reduced public spending and state expenditure, stabilised banking sector, and orderly settlement of the state's foreign debt. The past two years have also seen a successful cooperation achieved with international financial institutions and the signing of a new stand-by arrangement with the International Monetary Fund. There have also been two very good tourist seasons, the successful implementation of pension and health reforms, improved material standing of retired persons, and increased state spending for education, science, and culture. The ministers share the assessments made in the report, and reiterated during the discussion that more had been done in the past two years than had been expected. They primarily referred to economic results, like declining interest rates, the stability of the domestic currency, diminishing spending abroad, and headway in the protection of human rights. (hina) ha