UNIONS DO NOT GIVE UP PROTEST RALLY AT CENTRAL ZAGREB SQUARE

( Editorial: --> 2547 ) ZAGREB, Feb 17 (Hina) - Unions will hold the announced protest rally at the central Zagreb square on 20 February, said the president of the Association of Croatian Workers' Unions, Boris Kunst, in a message to the Zagreb municipal leadership, at a press conference on Tuesday. The municipal leadership did not approve the protest meeting scheduled for 20 February at Jelacic Square but it suggested that organisers, three union organisations and two union branches hold the meeting at locations determined for such gatherings, like the recreational centre Jarun or Maksimir Park. "The war is over and there is no reason for forbidding Croatian citizens to gather in public anywhere in the country," said Kunst. The committee for the organisation of the rally, which includes trade unions and representatives of 11 political parties as well as six associations which support the protest meeting, had registered the rally with Zagreb police, Kunst said. The committee sent an open letter to the Government, informing it about the reasons for the meeting and its requests. It also sent a letter to Zagreb Archbishop Josip Bozanic. Parliamentary representatives were asked to see that the Zagreb municipal leadership approve the meeting at Jelacic Square. Organisers expect that more than 50,000 people will come to the rally. About 300 union members will take care of the safety of protesters and keep order. (hina) rm 171457 MET feb 98