CRO GOVT INITIATES DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

( Editorial: --> 4800 ) ZAGREB, Feb 26 (Hina) - The Croatian Government in a closed session on Thursday decided to modify its strategy for further development of Croatia in keeping with the new situation in the Croatian Danubian Region following the completion of the peaceful reintegration process on 15 January this year. The Government has appointed Science and Technology Minister Ivica Kostovic and the Croatian President's senior economic adviser Pere Jurkovic as coordinators of the project. By the end of March they are to propose to the Government, institutions and individuals who will develop the project based on resolutions to date, said the Government's Communications Office in a statement. During the session, the Government accepted the report from the Interior Minister Ivan Penic on the protests held on 20 February in Zagreb. The Government gave credit to members of the police force who in spite of provocations, professionally and with dignity, carried out their duties. The Government accepted the proposal for a collective agreement on the lowest wage based on a draft agreement elaborated by the Croatian Government and Association of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia. The Government authorised the Minister for Labour and Social Welfare, Joso Skara, to sign the agreement on behalf of the Government and invite representatives of other trade unions and employers to accept and sign the same agreement. Parties to the agreement claim that the lowest gross wages cannot be lower than the base for the calculation of contributions for old age pensions and invalids' pensions. (hina) jn mrb . 261902 MET feb 98