IMF MISSION BEGINS OFFICIAL TALKS WITH CROATIAN REPRESENTATIVES

ZAGREB, Feb 7 (Hina) - An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Hand Flickenshield, on Thursday began official talks with representatives of the Croatian authorities on the implementation of the stand-by arrangement, which was granted to Croatia in March 2001. The IMF delegation began the official talks in the government building on Thursday morning with Croatian Vice Premier Slavko Linic, Finance Minister Mato Crkvenac and Croatian National Bank governor Zeljko Rohatinski. At the begging of the government's session, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said the Croatian representatives were satisfied with the talks. "According to the report I received, the talks did not focus on the new arrangement with the IMF, but the implementation of the existing one," Racan said briefly. The main topics of the talks will most probably be the implementation of the existing stand-by arrangement, which expires in May 2002, the current economic and financial indicators as well as possibilities and modalities of the further cooperation. Over the next ten days, members of the IMF Mission will hold talks with the heads of the Croatian central bank. They will also hold several talks in the Finance Ministry on the execution of the state budget for last year and the plan for this year. Also expected to take place are talks with the state agency or the insurance of savings deposits and the financial rehabilitation of banks, the Croatian Bank for the Reconstruction and Development. Also scheduled is a visit to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Zagreb. The three-member IMF delegation will stay in Croatia until February 15. (hina) it