STABLE PRICES ARE BASIC TASK OF MONETARY POLICY - SKREB

RIJEKA, Nov 24 (Hina) - Croatian National Bank governor Marko Skreb said the maintenance of stable prices at the macro-economic level was the basic task of Croatia's monetary policy whose goals are accessing the European Union and the European Monetary Union. Speaking at Rijeka's Faculty of Economy about "which monetary policy was best for Croatia", Skreb stressed those who speak about "radical turning points in the monetary policy being an important element in the entire economic policy" were wrong. Croatia needs a monetary policy which will guarantee as fast an integration into Europe as possible, although this cannot be expected to happen in a period less than ten years, he said. According to Skreb, the final goal of Croatia's monetary policy is not in question, but rather the issue of how to fulfil all political and economic conditions to access the European Monetary Union. Skreb asserted the introduction of the Euro as a currency in Croatia should be thought about thoroughly. In order to close in on and join the European Union, our country, with the current four per cent, must decrease inflation by at least 50 per cent, to level with the average in EU countries, Skreb stressed. (hina) lml mm