CROATIAN FARMERS START WARNING PROTEST

( Editorial: --> 1628 ) PISKOREVCI, Aug 4 (Hina) - At 7 am on Tuesday, Croatian farmers started a one-day warning protest by blocking a road in the vicinity of Piskorevci (near Djakovo, eastern Slavonia) with agricultural machines. The protest, organised by the Association of Farmers from Slavonija and Baranja, was prompted by the Government's rejection of a farmers' request that the purchasing price of one net kg of wheat be set at 1.10 kuna for all farmers, including Value Added Tax payers. Association president Antun Laslo said the blockade prevented direct access to the Zagreb-Lipovac motorway. The motorway can be reached by using ring roads in Budrovci, Stari Mikanovci and Strizivojna. The farmers will hold a panel discussion and a press conference at the site of the protest and organise the signing of a petition on the situation in agriculture. The petition will be sent to the Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, Parliament President Vlatko Pavletic and Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa. Laslo confirmed that passage through the blockade would be allowed for Stabilisation Force vehicles, ambulances, fire brigades and the Croatian Army and police. The protest headquarters will be suggested to deblock the road at 3pm instead of 7pm due to heat. (hina) rml 041055 MET aug 98