IMF DELEGATION ENDS VISIT TO CROATIA

ZAGREB, Feb 12 (Hina) - An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation ended a one-week visit to Croatia on Friday with talks with officials of the Croatian National Bank and Finance Ministry. The IMF representatives led by the Mission Chief to Croatia, Hans Flickenschild, held talks with representatives of the Croatian National Bank and some commercial banks, the State Agency for the insurance of savings investments and the financial rehabilitation of banks, the Croatian National Parliament, Finance Ministry, pension and health insurance funds, as well as with representatives of several leading public companies facing privatisation, the Croatian National Bank said in a statement. The talks focused on the possibilities of how Croatia, both in circumstances of unfavourable external surroundings and big changes in global economy and financial system, can sustain its macroeconomic stability and initiate the driving-wheel of healthy economic growth, following the slowing down of economic activities registered recently. In order to implement these goals, the IMF delegation said, special significance is given to further decreases of the balance of payments current account deficit - registered at a decrease in 1998. It is important for inflation to remain at the level maintained for several years. (hina) lml mm