PROTEST CALLED FOR 20 FEBRUARY AT ZAGREB'S CITY CENTRE SQUARE

( Editorial: --> 8363 ) ZAGREB, 30 Jan (Hina) - A protest against the poor economic and social situation in Croatia will be held on 20 February in Zagreb's city centre at Ban Jelacic Square. It is organised by four trade unions and supported by nine political parties and several citizens' associations. At a media conference on Friday, representatives of the committee in charge of preparing the protest said that by protesting they wish to alert the government of the "destructive cosequences" of its economic and social policies. Boris Kunst, President of the Association of Croatian Workers' Unions (URSH), which initiated the formation of a committee to organise the protest, said that he expects between 50,000 and 70,000 people to attend and that it will be the biggest protest rally in the last ten years. According to Kunst, they will not ask for permission to hold the rally but will only notify police because they believe the City Administration's decision banning public gatherings on Ban Jelacic Square to be anti-constitutional. Kunst said that as yet the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the Social Democractic Party (SDP) have not replied to their invitations to join the protest. He added that he "has definite signs from certain HDZ officials that they will join the protest". If the Croatian Government does not change its policies after the protest the unions will question its responsibility for the nation's situation. We want a government in favour of change and development, we've had enough of a status quo and stagnant government, Niko Gunjin from the Croatian Association of Unions (HUS) said, epitomising the rally organisers' stance. (hina) jn mrb 301715 MET jan 98