ECONOMY MINISTER TALKS TO REPORTERS IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, Feb 1 (Hina) - Croatian Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic on Tuesday told reporters in Zagreb the ministry would not change its past policy regarding Croatia's access to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The Economy Ministry has also prepared for United States State Secretary Madeleine Albright's visit to Croatia tomorrow. Fizulic is certain the U.S. will do everything to eliminate within two months the political obstacles obstructing Croatia's access to the WTO. He believes the U.S. may agree to the French model of audio- visual services regulation in Croatia's case, since Croatia is a European country. Fizulic today requested the resignation of Croatian Privatisation Fund (HFP) president Stipe Hrkac since Hrkac did not make his function available. He expects the matter will be discussed by parliament at its next session. Fizulic said the Economy Ministry should deal with all business relative to privatisation. The status of the HFP will remain the same for now, but in the future it will have to be decided whether the HFP will remain a separate legal entity or an agency within the Economy Ministry. Fizulic announced his ministry would retain its old name, of economy and privatisation, and would not become the ministry of power, industry, trade and privatisation. The new economy minister said that in the future, salaries for any company would not be paid out from his ministry's account. "The Ministry does not intend to issue any guarantees, not to state- owned, and certainly not to privately-owned companies," he said. Speaking about Croatia's greatly indebted largest press distributor "Tisak", Fizulic said it could not remain state-owned, but ought to be sold. "Somebody must account for this tragedy of Croatia's economy," he asserted. (hina) ha