HSS PRESIDENT ISSUES STATEMENT FOLLOWING AGREEMENT WITH GOVT

ZAGREB, June 30 (Hina) - Following the signing of an agreement with the Croatian Government on Wednesday, the Croatian Farmers' Association (HSS) requested from farmers to lift road blocks and disperse peacefully. The agreement offers a new approach in solving the farmers' issue, said a statement, signed by HSS president Ivan Kolar. Croatian farmers started their protests last Saturday by blocking roads and border crossings in inland Croatia. The HSS, which organised the rallies, demanded that the Government impose a ban on the import of agricultural products of which there are sufficient amounts from domestic production, that the state pay farmers' claims and increase the purchase price of wheat. The protests were supported by many parties and associations, but there were parties and alliances which believed that the protests were illegal and politicised and that road blocks affected the country's tourism and overall economy, Kolar said. During the five-day negotiations, the Government said the ban on imports would represent a step further from Croatia's admission into the European Union and affect talks on Croatia's admission to the World Trade Organisation. The Government stressed, and this is also emphasised in the agreement signed today, that it would always support the most effective forms of protection of domestic production. In regard to the payment of farmers' claims, Government officials said most of the state's obligations towards farmers have been fulfilled, whereas the remaining ones are being fulfilled. According to the agreement, all immediate claims which are older than 60 days and which have to be paid by the state will be paid as soon as possible, while all future claims will be paid within 60 days. The net price of wheat per kilogram for the 1999 yields will amount to between 0.95 and 1 kuna (about US$0.13). The price of wheat before the signing of the agreement was 0.75 kuna per kilogram, Kolar said. (hina) rml