ZAGREB, Nov 19 (Hina) - A two-month consecutive drop in unemployment and the solid results of this year's tourist season have led to a mild increase in Croatia's LEGSI index, which stands at 57 for November, one point more than the
previous month.
ZAGREB, Nov 19 (Hina) - A two-month consecutive drop in
unemployment and the solid results of this year's tourist season
have led to a mild increase in Croatia's LEGSI index, which stands
at 57 for November, one point more than the previous month. #L#
The drop in unemployment for two consecutive months has been
recorded for the first time since Croatia gained independence,
analysts of the U.S. consulting company Euroasia Group and the
Lehman Brothers investment bank say in their latest report, which
the Croatian Employers' Association released on Tuesday.
The report also notes that the unemployment decrease was recorded
just as the peak summer tourist season was out.
The report further notes a stronger influx of deposits in domestic
banks, also at the end of the tourist season, which is seen as a
result of good tourist business as well as of increased confidence
in the domestic banking system.
The report welcomes the government's efforts to secure a new deal
with the International Monetary Fund, as well as announcements that
the deal would not be used to fund spending but to support the
macroeconomic policy.
As regards the political and security situation, the report says it
stagnates as against October. It notes the government's defensive
position in connection with the right-wing and militarist lobby
linked to the case of Gen. Janko Bobetko, who has been indicted by
the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague. Specifically, the report
says this case continues to hamper the government's relations with
the international and a section of the domestic public.
The situation within the ruling coalition is evaluated as more
stable than before, even though it is pointed out that relations
between the Social Democratic Party and the Croatian Peasants Party
may continue to be burdened by their differences as to the concept
of privatisation for public companies.
The report mentions the outbreak of trichinosis in the Istria
region, which was most probably caused by an inspection oversight,
and increased pressure on the government to step up the control of
meat.
With 57 points of the Lehman Brothers Eurasia Group Stability Index
(LEGSI), Croatia is ranked 11th among the monitored countries.
Preceding it are Hungary, Poland, Mexico, Brazil, Bulgaria, South
Africa, China, Thailand, Russia, and Philippines. Behind Croatia
on the list are Turkey, Egypt, Venezuela, Ukraine, Colombia,
Argentina, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, and Nigeria.
LEGSI gauges the political stability of countries in transition and
other countries throughout the world, namely their potential and
resistance to internal crises. The index considers the political
and economic movements of governments and their image in the
domestic and international public, and the most important social,
security and economy events in the observed period.
(hina) ha sb