KOLAR HOLDS TALKS WITH CRO PRIME MINISTER AND AGRICULTURE MINISTER

ZAGREB, June 30 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croatian Farmers' Association (HSS) headed by president Ivan Kolar held talks with Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa and Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ivan Djurkic in the Croatian Government building on Wednesday. After the talks, the HSS representatives continued negotiations in the Croatian Agriculture and Forestry Ministry. The HSS representatives refuse to comment on talks. Minister Djurkic said that standpoints on a joint statement have been harmonised during the talks in the government building, and added that the HSS delegation would hold talks with representatives of the bakers trade in the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry on the purchase price of wheat. The Ministry will be only a mediator during the negotiations, Djurkic said and added that conditions for unblocking roads were created. Earlier today, the president of the HSS, Ivan Kolar told Radio Osijek that the only contentious issue during the negotiations with the Croatian Government and the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry was the price of wheat. "I believe that the protest will end this afternoon, Kolar said. According to him, about 100,000 farmers with 30,000 tractors have been protesting for two days already. Kolar told Radio Osijek that organisers of the protest did not expect so many farmers to participate in the protest. Croatian farmers will continue to protest until their demands are fulfilled. (hina) it.