WORLD BANK DIRECTOR FOR CROATIA MEETS CRO GOVT REPRESENTATIVES

ZAGREB, Feb 18 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan and his deputies Zeljka Antunovic and Slavko Linic on Friday discussed the economic situation in Croatia and the establishment of chief tasks in planned reforms with World Bank director for Croatia Arntraud Hartmann. Hartmann said after the talks the World Bank would maintain a good cooperation with Croatia. According to Linic, the World Bank wants to assist Croatia technically and through loans, especially in health, social, and pension reforms, as well as in overcoming infrastructure difficulties, namely the privatisation of oil giant Ina, the power utility company, and the reorganisation of Croatian Railways and Croatia's harbours. Linic said the World Bank could back Croatia with major loans, but if Croatia met specific conditions related to the world and European market. These conditions are included in the government's programme, Linic said, adding there was no reason for Croatia not to be granted new loans, the amounts of which would depend exclusively on the government's and ministries' performance. As soon as we start with changes in the health sector, pension insurance, and the privatisation of the public sector, Croatia will be granted more funds, Linic said. (hina) ha