PENSIONERS' ASSOCIATIONS SIGN AGREEMENTS WITH 'OPPOSITION SIX'

ZAGREB, Dec 10 (Hina) - Three associations of Croatian pensioners and the SDP-HSLS coalition on Friday signed a Joint Statement on creating acquired rights of retirees and improving conditions and the standard of living. Under the agreement, the parties bind themselves to adopt a law on the implementation of the 12 May 1998 ruling of the Constitution Court within six months as of the constitution of the new House of Representatives. In this way they will rectify mistakes caused by stinting pensions and under such a law they should ensure the settling of debts toward retirees. Davorko Vidovic said the SDP (Social and Democratic Party) and the HSLS (the Croatian Social and Liberal Party) could pledge to indemnify pensioners without today's signing, as the care for elderly people had to date been one of main issues of the two parties' programmes. Ivo Skrabalo added that he would continue to struggle for the dignity of old people just as used to do during his previous term in the Sabor. The three pensioners' associations that signed the document are the Trade Union of Pensioners, the society "Croatian Pensioner" and the "Matica Umirovljenika". The latter signed a similar document called the Social Contract on the post-election settlement to the retirees' problems, with the Opposition Four coalition (HSS, LS, HNS and IDS). During the act of signing on Friday morning at the offices of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Zlatko Tomcic called on pensioners to cast ballots for the opposition. Vlado Gotovac assessed that today's signing guaranteed the enforcement of laws that had not been implemented to date. If anything was contrary to Croatia as a social state, it was such kind of the Government's treatment of pensioners, Radimir Cacic added. Emil Soldatic described the conclusion of the Social Contract as a continuation of good cooperation between the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) and retirees' associations. (hina) mm ms