DJURKIC AND KOLAR GIVE OUT PRESS STATEMENTS

ZAGREB, June 30 (Hina) - The unblocking of roads in Croatia will begin before midnight, president of the Croatian Farmers' Alliance (HSS), Ivan Kolar, said Wednesday. The agreement reached between the HSS and the Croatian Agriculture and Forestry Ministry stipulates eight hours from the signing of the agreement for the roads to be unblocked. The process will be done peacefully, in the same manner the farmers blocked the roads, Kolar said. Minister Djurkic expressed satisfaction on behalf of the Croatian Government that the agreement was reached by dialogue which removed disagreements surrounding the solving of some problems in Croatian agriculture. Expressing hope that there would be no similar future protest activities which harm Croatia economically and politically, Djurkic stressed that by preventing other economic activities in the country, the national revenue was being restricted and decreased. Only from it, he stressed, can agriculture be helped with stimulation and subsidies. Djurkic called on the HSS and other farmers' associations to be the Government's partners in the future as well. Asked about the solving of the problem of sugar beet farmers which gave their produce to the Virovitica sugar manufacturing factory, Djurkic said talks about the issue are ongoing since last December, and are not proceeding with the expected dynamics- Asked whether undertaking legal measures meant opening bankruptcy proceedings for the Virovitica factory, Djurkic replied, yes, if the farmers are not paid for their produce. (hina) lml