ISTRIA COUNTY HEADS ASK CONSOLIDATION MEASURES FOR ISTRIAN BANK

PULA, March 27 (Hina) - The leaders of Istria County on Monday requested Prime Minister Ivica Racan and governor of the Croatian National Bank (HNB) Marko Skreb to undertake measures making it possible for the Istrian Bank d.d. Pula a normal payment of savings investments and business transactions with the bank's customers. Measures aimed at the Istrian Bank gaining liquidity include short- term loans, the state's paying back of debts to the Bank and the recognition of some of the Bank's expenses as gains. The leadership seeks that the government and the HNB support the consolidation of the Bank by granting a short-term loan for liquidity. The county heads asked that the 157 million kuna (DM39.25 million) worth of bonds issued by the Bank in the first phase of bank restructuring and DM76 million for the "old" frozen savings the Istrian bank had paid to citizens be recognised as the Bank's income. The county leadership also demanded that the Istrian Bank be paid 11.4 million kuna (DM2.85 million) from the government budget for all unpaid debts for bonds issued for sold flats. The HNB Council was requested to review its decision on the appointment of a temporary trustee for the Bank. The government and the Parliament are also asked to instigate the establishment of responsibility for all those who had caused the blockade of the Istrian Bank. The Istrian County heads forwarded their requests to the most senior state and ministry officials, as well as institutions. (hina) lml jn