'MHS' DOES NOT BACK KUNST'S STATEMENT, AND IS SURPRISED BY GOVT'S RESPONSE

ZAGREB, July 23 (Hina) - The federation of Croatian unions called "Matica Hrvatskih Sindikata (MHS)" on Sunday expressed surprise at the reaction of the Croatian Government to a statement given by Boris Kunst, the leader of the Association of Workers' Trade Unions of Croatia (URSH), who announced workers' protest rallies for autumn. On Friday the Government reported that the statement made by Kunst, after Thursday's meeting between union leaders and President Stipe Mesic, that workers would stage protest rallies this autumn, demanding the replacement of the government due to its inefficiency, is contrary to the stands and conclusions on the mutual ensuring of social truce, adopted at sessions of the Economic and Social Council, and agreed on with all union members sitting on the Council, including the URSH. It is the first time that we have heard of the existence of such agreement on social truce, the MHS said in a statement on Sunday, adding that in the Economic and Social Council nobody asked for or committed themselves to the social truce. The social truce is a goal which is to be achieved between the Government and the trade unions, read the MSH statement signed by the MHS President Vilim Ribic. The MHS did not support the conduct of Boris Kunst as well. (hina) ms