GOVT WANTS AGREEMENT WITH SOCIAL PARTNERS ON DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT

ZAGREB/PLITVICE, Aug 25 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Friday said he hoped the Government and social partners, who today started a working meeting at the Plitvicka Jezera national park, would reach an agreement on the concept of Croatia's development for the next three years. Participating in the meeting are government representatives, headed by Prime Minister Racan, union representatives, and members of the Croatian Employers' Association and the President's Office. Racan said the meeting was organised by the Finance Ministry, with the assistance of the Government, and its purpose was to discuss with social partners topics which are relevant for Croatia's future. These topics include a three-year budget, a development strategy, a taxation system and social truce, the Government said in a statement today. Racan said participants in the meeting agreed that the results achieved so far were good and that they represented a good basis for the further resolution of economic problems. "The development rate in the future period has been estimated at three to five percent annually and we hope this dialogue here will result in our agreement regarding the concept of Croatia's development for the next three years," Racan said. The meeting expressed trust in the Government's potential and its ability to overcome the current situation in the next two to three years, Racan said. The meeting at Plitvicka Jezera will last four days. (hina) jn rml