UNION: FIZULIC'S STATEMENT HASTY AND UNFOUNDED

PULA, Aug 24 (Hina) - The Istria Workers' Trade Union on Thursday described as hasty and unfounded Wednesday's statement by Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic, who said the shipyard 'Uljanik' had realised profit despite the fact that it was being financially rehabilitated. Union leader Bruno Bulic and the union's chief commissioner for the Pula-based shipyard, Rajko Kutlaca, said that "to speak about profit in a public company which is exempt from a set of financial obligations toward the state, funds, the city, utility companies and workers, is irresponsible and unfair." To speak about the profitability of shipbuilding industry today in Europe is irresponsible, Bulic told reporters. Countries are supporting shipbuilding industry exclusively for strategic reasons and as the branch through which a large part of their economies built into ships can enter the market. Bulic said that 'Uljanik' has still not paid, apart from other financial obligations, its debt to its workers, which has been confirmed by a final court verdict in the workers' favour. "The Istria Union will continue insisting on the workers' claims which are worth some 70 million kuna. How is Uljanik going to complete its financial rehabilitation if it does not pay its debts?," Bulic asked. Exactly this would be the first step toward completing the process of rehabilitation, he said. "That is the right, fair and legal path, anything else is manipulation," Bulic concluded. (hina) rml