NAMA EMPLOYEES TRY TO STAGE PROTEST IN FRONT OF CRO GOVT BUILDING

ZAGREB, May 6 (Hina) - Several hundred workers of Nama, a chain of department stores in Croatia, on Thursday tried to stage a protest in front of the Croatian Government building in downtown Zagreb, but police prevented them from accessing the St. Mark Square, where the Government building is located. The protesters remained in nearby streets, waiting for the outcome of talks between their delegation and Economy Minister Nenad Porges, which are to take place after a regular government session. The delegation demands from the Government to, in cooperation with privatisation and investment funds (PIF), which are the majority owners of Nama, and the Privredna Banka Zagreb (PBZ), which holds mortgage on 10 Nama stores, find a strategic partner who would buy Nama, pay its debts, supply goods, and re-start Nama's business activities. Several Nama employees went on a hunger strike on May 3 to prevent the PBZ from collecting its claims by selling Nama's property. The PBZ suspended the decision, but the protesters demanded guarantees that investors would be found for Nama. Minister Porges told several union representatives, who today managed to talks to him, that representatives of the Nama Management, the PBZ, and the PIF would on Friday hold talks on the problem of Nama at the Economy Ministry. The Government cannot solve problems of every company which is facing difficulties, Porges said, adding, however, it would try to help in finding a solution for Nama. (hina) it jn/rml