AIM OF UNION PROTEST ORGANISERS WAS TO PROVOKE DISORDER: VONS

( Editorial: --> 4036 ) ZAGREB, Feb 23 (Hina) - A meeting of the Croatian Defence and National Security Council (VONS) was held under the chairmanship of President Franjo Tudjman, the President's Office said on Monday. During discussion it was emphasised that organisers of the protest, held on Friday, 19 February in Zagreb, did not want to point out any of the serious social problems, but their fundamental aim was to provoke disorder the day before the governing party's convention. This was shown in their joint as well as individual announcements. It is symbolic that union leaders who organised the rallies because of what they said was general poverty, have wages which are abundantly larger than the national average and larger than the salaries of most state officials, and that the protest organising committee gathered 12 political parties, from the extreme left to the extreme right. As well as expressing acknowledgement to members of the police who without the use of force successfully prevented the violation of regulations, despite provocations and physical attacks, the VONS emphasised that the police service along with protecting personal security and dignity had to secure public order and protect the security of all citizens, the statement said. (Hina) mm mb 231614 MET feb 98