FINANCE MINISTRY'S AND HNB'S COOPERATION COMMITTEE HOLDS 1ST SESSION

ZAGREB, Sept 5 (Hina) - The newly-established committee for the cooperation between Croatia's Finance Ministry and National Bank (HNB) held its first session on Tuesday. The central bank's Governor, Zeljko Rohatinski, and Finance Minister Mato Crkvenac expressed satisfaction with the establishment of such kind of permanent communications and the possibility this committee offers for the exchange of information and joint efforts in finding best solutions in monetary and fiscal polices. The committee, which will be led by Deputy Governor Boris Vujcic and Deputy Finance Minister Damir Kustrak, will hold regular session every week. During today's meeting the committee discussed the payment of the rest of debts to depositors who had ensured savings with banks which have filed for bankruptcy. Officials of the ministry and the central bank agreed that they would do their best and all what they can in line with their competence to help settle the rest of such debt. So far, the government has paid 1.069 billion kuna (some $127 million) to those depositors. The rest of this debt, which refers to deposits up to 100,000 kuna (some $12,000), comes to 2,376,050 kuna ($282,863). The Finance Ministry informed the HNB of the state's duties in the payment of the public debt. By the end of 2000, the Government should settle another 873 million kuna of the foreign debt and 275 million of the internal debt. So far this year, all instalments have been paid regularly, Deputy Finance Minister Kustrak said. (hina) ms