PROTESTS WILL CONTINUE - SAYS CROATIAN FARMERS' ASSOCIATION

ZAGREB, June 26 (Hina) - The Croatian Farmers' Association on Saturday held protest rallies in seven counties. According to data received by 2pm, between 12,000 and 15,000 farmers rallied at 34 points blocking all major roads in those counties, Croatian Peasants' Party secretary Stanko Grcic told reporters in Zagreb. To block roads, farmers used farming equipment, tractors, and harvesters, among else. In a statement issued in the afternoon, the farmers' association said the protests would continue as long as the farmers' demands remained unfulfilled. The protesters will stay at the rally points until they are received at the government, or the agriculture and forestry ministry, namely until the signing of a draft agreement on long-term and urgent measures for the rehabilitation of agriculture. The farmers' association further said that at some rally points, the police had used force, "even over minors, inflicting physical injuries." Farmers will stage rallies throughout the country to achieve their goals, the statement said. They insist on a ban on the import of agricultural products which have been produced in sufficient amounts by domestic farmers. They also demand the immediate payment of money for last year's crops already given to the state as well as 1.32 kuna per kilogram of wheat as the purchase price. (hina) ha jn