DM 172 MILLION COLLECTED FOR VAT IN FIRST TWO WEEKS

( Editorial: --> 8330 ) ZAGREB, Jan 30 (Hina) - In the first two weeks since the introduction of value added tax on January 1, 1998, the amount collected reached DM 172 million, the head of tax administration at the Croatian Ministry for Finance, Mate Perkovic, told reporters in Zagreb Friday, adding this corresponded to plans. According to data received from banks, there have been no short- term loans to meet obligations connected with VAT, Perkovic said, adding the taxpayers' liquidity suffered no blow. Prices between January and late March should due to VAT drop by 1.7 per cent, Perkovic said, while this year's planned revenue from VAT should exceed DM 4 billion. (hina) ha jn 301345 MET jan 98