ZAGREB, June 28 (Hina) - The Croatian Farmers' Association (HSS) on Monday said talks held with Government representatives were unsuccessful with regard to their demands. Farmers will continue to block roads throughout continental
Croatia until the Government decides to meet their demands, said HSS president Ivan Kolar, following talks with Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa and Agriculture Minister Ivan Djurkic. Farmers are demanding a ban on import of agricultural products of which there are sufficient supplies in Croatia; payment of unpaid debts and an increase in wheat prices. The Government's claims about decreasing imports of agricultural products are not firmly founded and there has been no indication of higher protective customs rates or bans on imports of products of which there are sufficient supplies in Croatia, Kolar said. Kolar reflected on the Government's argument that it was absurd to ban i
ZAGREB, June 28 (Hina) - The Croatian Farmers' Association (HSS) on
Monday said talks held with Government representatives were
unsuccessful with regard to their demands.
Farmers will continue to block roads throughout continental
Croatia until the Government decides to meet their demands, said
HSS president Ivan Kolar, following talks with Prime Minister
Zlatko Matesa and Agriculture Minister Ivan Djurkic.
Farmers are demanding a ban on import of agricultural products of
which there are sufficient supplies in Croatia; payment of unpaid
debts and an increase in wheat prices.
The Government's claims about decreasing imports of agricultural
products are not firmly founded and there has been no indication of
higher protective customs rates or bans on imports of products of
which there are sufficient supplies in Croatia, Kolar said.
Kolar reflected on the Government's argument that it was absurd to
ban imports at a time when the Croatia is negotiating accession to
the World Trade Organisation and that such a move would be in
opposition to the country's pro-European orientation.
Claims such as this would be valid if standards enjoyed by Croatian
farmers were equal to those of the European Union, he said.
An agreement has not been reached either with regard to payments of
last year's yields, except for the part regarding money owed to
farmers by the Virovitica sugar refinery.
The Government will try and convince the owners of the sugar factory
- the Netherlands Cosun factory - to pay its debts to its clients,
Kolar continued.
However, he stressed it was not true that the state had settled its
obligations to farmers. If this was the case, farmers would not be
on the streets today, he said.
The Government has not agreed to increase the price of this year's
wheat yields and has suggested that farmers negotiate with bakers
who could purchase the wheat at the economic price, Kolar said.
He emphasised the HSS was prepared to continue negotiating with the
Government about its demands.
Asked to comment on the Premier's claims that the road blocks are
affecting the tourist season, Kolar replied, "We have not noticed a
huge influx of tourists. If they were to turn up, we would allow them
to continue on their way".
(hina) sp jn/rml