IMF, CROATIA NEGOTIATING ECONOMIC PROGRAMME, ASSISTANCE

ZAGREB, April 12 (Hina) - Croatia and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are discussing Croatia's economic programme for 2000/2001, which the IMF could support with funds within a stand-by arrangement, the IMF Mission to Croatia said in a statement in Zagreb on Wednesday. An IMF delegation, headed by Hans Flickenschild, visited Zagreb between March 29 and April 12. The delegation held talks with Croatian authorities, Croatian National Bank, unions, employers, and institutions of the financial sector about the economic situation in the country and future prospects. It is expected that, with the aim of completing the talks, the IMF delegation will in June pay another visit to Croatia, whereas the Croatian government will in the meantime consider several options of the economic policy within the proposed programme. In that regard, the government has requested the IMF, World Bank and other institutions to provide technical and advisory assistance regarding some of these options. The IMF will between April and June 2000 send to Croatia three delegations of technical assistants for the areas of tax policy, state treasury management, and coordination between the central bank and the Finance Ministry, the statement read. (hina) jn rml