This means that a significant macroeconomic adjustment of 0.7 percentage points was achieved, while in 2004 the general government deficit accounted for 4.9 percent of GDP.
Suker told a news conference in Zagreb that the Ivo Sanader cabinet planned to cut the general government deficit to 3.3 percent of GDP.
He added that in case of a continuation of positive macroeconomic trends over next five or six months, the government would mull certain measures to ease tax burdens.
Suker reiterated that contributions were still the largest burden in the price of labour, explaining that, for instance, a net salary of about 3,700 kuna entails very high contributions, with those to the pension and health insurance funds accounting for 90 percent of the burden, while taxes account for the remaining 10 percent.
The minister declined to comment on a letter of intent which the Croatian government would send to the International Monetary Fund whose board of directors would convene soon to discuss the implementation of the stand-by arrangement in Croatia so far and its possible extension.
The stand-by deal will probably be extended until October this year, Suker said, adding that he believed in the successful completion of the stand-by arrangement.
After that we can expect a much more liberal arrangement which will probably be in force until Croatia's admission to the European Union, the minister said.
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