DEPUTIES SUPPORT ESTABLISHMENT OF WHOLESALE MARKET SYSTEM

( Editorial: --> 7011 ) ZAGREB, April 15 (Hina) - A European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) loan worth 33.5 million German marks will be used to establish or renovate five local wholesale markets in Croatia and the wholesale market centre in Zagreb. The EBRD gives its full support for one of the wholesale markets to be located in Benkovac instead of Zadar, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Zlatko Dominikovic told the Croatian National Parliament's House of Representatives at Wednesday's session. During the time when a study on wholesale markets was being prepared Benkovac had been occupied and Zadar was chosen as a wholesale market centre instead, Dominikovic said, explaining the reasons why a change in one of the centres for a wholesale market was being proposed. Other wholesale markets would be set up in Osijek, Matulja, Split, Metkovic and Zagreb. Their basic task would be to enable farmers to directly sell their products. The EBRD loan was granted for a 14-year period, with a four-year grace period. During the debate MPs supported the establishment of the wholesale market system. Acknowledging the presence of Macedonian Parliamentary Speaker Tito Petkovski in the chamber, deputy speaker Drazen Budisa, who was chairing the house session, expressed his support for strengthening friendly relations between the Croatian and Macedonian peoples, states and parliaments. (Hina) mm mb /lm 152009 MET apr 98