ZAGREB, June 28 (Hina) - The Association of Workers' Trade Unions of Croatia (URSH) opposes any plans to seek additional loans for 'patching up' holes in the state budget, URSH president Boris Kunst said on Thursday. Instead of
curbing the prodigality of the state administration and monopolistic state companies, the government is shifting the burden to the tax payers who will have to pay off the debt, Kunst told a news conference. The Croatian government initially planned to seek 7.9 billion kuna worth of loans this year but this amount has already been exceeded so that its loans this year will amount to 10.7 billion kuna, which sets its total debt with interest at close to USD 20 billion, Kunst warned. The URSH president also criticised the government strategy of Croatia's development because he believes it does not give answers to the most important questions - poverty, unemployment, and better appreciation of work. The strate
ZAGREB, June 28 (Hina) - The Association of Workers' Trade Unions of
Croatia (URSH) opposes any plans to seek additional loans for
'patching up' holes in the state budget, URSH president Boris Kunst
said on Thursday.
Instead of curbing the prodigality of the state administration and
monopolistic state companies, the government is shifting the
burden to the tax payers who will have to pay off the debt, Kunst
told a news conference.
The Croatian government initially planned to seek 7.9 billion kuna
worth of loans this year but this amount has already been exceeded
so that its loans this year will amount to 10.7 billion kuna, which
sets its total debt with interest at close to USD 20 billion, Kunst
warned.
The URSH president also criticised the government strategy of
Croatia's development because he believes it does not give answers
to the most important questions - poverty, unemployment, and better
appreciation of work.
The strategy is a copy of the Croatian Democratic Union's (HDZ)
development strategy of 1998, Kunst said, adding the document
lacked information on how much time it would be needed to achieve
the goals stated in it.
Kunst also commented on an incident which happened at yesterday's
session of the Economic-Social Council (GSV), when Finance
Minister Mato Crkvenac left the session, insulted by unions'
criticisms.
"Crkvenac first delivered a monologue in the commissar fashion,
only to leave the session after he delivered it, proving that he is
not up to the job he has been entrusted with," Kunst said.
Kunst has requested that First Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic,
who chairs the GSV, dismiss Crkvenac as a member of the GSV.
(hina) rml