ZAGREB, June 8 (Hina) - About 400 employees with NAMA - a big chain of shops - was staging a rally in front of the Government offices in the downtown Zagreb on Thursday afternoon, after their delegation that had negotiated with the
Croatian Government informed them that the Croatian top authorities were in favour of bankruptcy for NAMA. Protesters insisted that Prime Minister Ivica Racan should address them and explain them reasons for such a stance of the Government. At the beginning of Thursday's session of the Government, PM Racan said the Government did not want any more to take part in a project that had no prospects, i.e. in a programme for the rehabilitation of NAMA. At one moment the Government was ready to support the rehabilitation of this company, and offered to the Privredna Bank Zagreb (PBZ) NAMA's shares that are in the Government's portfolio. The bank, however, did not accept this prop
ZAGREB, June 8 (Hina) - About 400 employees with NAMA - a big chain
of shops - was staging a rally in front of the Government offices in
the downtown Zagreb on Thursday afternoon, after their delegation
that had negotiated with the Croatian Government informed them that
the Croatian top authorities were in favour of bankruptcy for
NAMA.
Protesters insisted that Prime Minister Ivica Racan should address
them and explain them reasons for such a stance of the Government.
At the beginning of Thursday's session of the Government, PM Racan
said the Government did not want any more to take part in a project
that had no prospects, i.e. in a programme for the rehabilitation of
NAMA.
At one moment the Government was ready to support the
rehabilitation of this company, and offered to the Privredna Bank
Zagreb (PBZ) NAMA's shares that are in the Government's portfolio.
The bank, however, did not accept this proposal and the bankruptcy
with re-organisation was inevitable for NAMA, the Premier said.
He announced that the Government would try to save jobs for the
employed workers, but a part of employees would have to be
registered at the Employment Office. We must discontinue this
desperate situation and disorder in NAMA and we can no longer talk
about the company's rehabilitation. NAMA was plundered for years
and this company is wanted by nobody. Therefore, the bankruptcy
with restructuring is the only solution, Racan asserted.
After his talks with a delegation of NAMA a Deputy Prime Minister
Slavko Linic said their views on NAMA's future did not come closer.
The Government concluded that the agony of NAMA must be over and the
procedures for bankruptcy with restructuring must be launched,
Linic reiterated.
According to him, the programme for the company's rehabilitation
had no economic prospects and was not real. At least 50 percent of
NAMA workers will remain after the bankruptcy.
Mario Ivekovic, a local unionist who led NAMA protesters, believed
that the decision on the bankruptcy was political and probably
made, owing to Linic's pressure.
He claimed that of 180 million kuna of debts, NAMA management
managed to find a solution for 100 million and added that the
programme had good prospects.
NAMA Management on Thursday offered resignation effective
immediately.
After discussing the situation, the management members decided to
resign in order not to aggravate the further process of the
settlement of a complicated and grave situation in the company.
They said they were ready to help, according to their potential and
knowledge, to the future management of NAMA.
(hina) ms