ZAGREB FAIR ZAGREB, Sept 13 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Monday opened the 75th International Autumn Zagreb Fair with almost 2,000 exhibitors from 40 countries. Enclosing a number of economic indicators, President
Tudjman stressed there was no doubt Croatia's economy was in exit from last year's recession.
ZAGREB, Sept 13 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on
Monday opened the 75th International Autumn Zagreb Fair with almost
2,000 exhibitors from 40 countries.
Enclosing a number of economic indicators, President Tudjman
stressed there was no doubt Croatia's economy was in exit from last
year's recession. #L#
The current economic and social situation in the country is
complex, but not as dramatic as some critics wish to show it to be,
and generally speaking, the present situation is better than last
year, Tudjman said.
Maintaining the achieved stability, achieving high maintainable
rates of economic growth with an as speedy as possible integration
into international economic trends and an effective functioning of
the law-based and social state were the strategic goals of future
development, Tudjman stressed.
The Government should as soon as possible prepare a comprehensive
programme of measures and activities which should, among other
things, include a decrease in the total fiscal burden of the
economy, a certain correction of the tax policy and a correction of
the Value Added Tax system with the aim of a more fair distribution
of the tax burden and social insurance of the poorer strata of
citizens, and introduce a zero tax rate for bread, milk, books and
medicines.
The Government should, furthermore, prepare a programme of
measures to restrict and redirect public expenditure to a smaller
number of priorities, and complete the reforms of the pension and
health insurance, Tudjman said.
The state of the economy nor the entire social life cannot change
over night. This, however, cannot and should not be an excuse for
any kind of hesitation. A wider consensus by all social subjects
about necessary measures would surely significantly increase their
efficiency, he stressed.
Tudjman recalled that in the past nine-year period, Croatia had, as
an independent country, achieved noticeable results in all
spheres. Just for solving the consequences of war --
reconstruction, and care for the invalids of the Homeland War -- the
state had had to set aside about one quarter of the government
budget.
He warned, however, that there were negative occurrences in
development so far.
He cited those which are the consequence of the lack of morality and
civil and political responsibility -- placing the interests of
individuals before political responsibilities, the violation of
laws, corruption, hidden taxes, moonlighting and so on.
Certain progress in removing these negative occurrences have been
done and several cases processed, Tudjman said, adding this was
still not enough.
"We should show no mercy in removing all those consciously
violating laws and who are not implementing the state policy, but we
should also not tolerate those who have proved to be incompetent or
unprepared to perform duties bestowed onto them," Tudjman said.
In line with this, Tudjman said, the control of all privatisation
processes should be completed where violations of law or the misuse
of authority had been established.
As part of trying to open up as much as possible towards the rest of
the world, Tudjman said Croatia is expected to soon become a full
member of the World Trade Organisation, it will try to reach an
agreement on cooperation with the European Union as soon as
possible and create conditions for accession into the CEFTA and use
the opportunities created by the Stability Pact.
General Director of the Zagreb Fair, Jurica Pavelic, said more than
a half of the exhibitors were from foreign countries which proved
the business interest of business people from around the world for
the Croatian market.
The Fair will include some 40 conferences with about 4,000
participants to discuss the most current issues of further economic
development.
Turkish Ambassador to Croatia Selahattin Alpar said Turkey would,
as a country-partner to this year's Autumn Fair, present more than
30 companies.
Turkish Minister Fikret Uenlue described Turkey's appearance in
Zagreb as a partner as a turning point in the development of trade
and economic relations between the two countries.
Numerous business people and dignitaries from the spheres of
politics, culture and science were addressed by Zagreb's Mayor
Marina Matulovic-Dropulic and the Czech Ambassador to Croatia who
was handed a charter and gold medal for his country's involvement in
last year's autumn fair as a partner.
(hina) lml jn