CROATIAN FARMERS REMOVE ROAD BLOCKS

OSIJEK, June 30 (Hina) - The association of farmers from Slavonija and Baranja (ZUSSB) ended a public protest and removed road blocks shortly after 14.00 hours Saturday. The farmers blocked roads at 10AM Saturday, protesting over conditions for the purchase of this year's wheat crop. After talks with representatives of the Agriculture Ministry and wheat buyers, held in the Osijek County Chamber of Commerce, ZUSSB heads decided to discontinue today's road blocks in seven counties. A new meeting is scheduled for Tuesday. ZUSSB President Antun Laslo said he would persist with demands that the wheat purchase price amounts to 1,20 kuna per kilogram and that the main buyer be the mill and bakery industry, without a third- party. Assistant Agriculture Minister Miroslav Pazur expressed readiness for further talks. After the talks, Pazur visited the protest site on the Osijek-Djakovo road and informed the farmers of the conclusions from the meeting after which road blocks were removed at 14.15 hours. The Osijek-Baranja police department said no incidents were reported from the protests at three locations in the county. (hina) it