DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ON GOVT'S RESULTS IN PAST 17 MONTHS

ZAGREB, Aug 18 (Hina) - Speaking about the results of the Croatian government in the past 17 months, Deputy Prime Minister Slavko Linic said the introduction of payment discipline, the halved amounts on blocked accounts, the drop in interest rates to below 10 percent and the money in banks which grant loans for economy were the results which gave the government the right to consider its work successful. On the other hand, he said, we cannot be satisfied with the slow growth of the employment rate. The government is investing efforts to improve this situation, including the prevention of black labour, the redefinition of the status of unemployed persons and the stimulation of the economy, he said. A number of unsuccessful companies, which generated debts and blocked accounts, have been eliminated. Bankruptcy proceedings are launched with the aim of healing the economy, Linic said, adding this would enable workers to return to their jobs and prepare companies for privatisation. Strong resistance has been put up to the economies in the state administration, but reforms cannot be carried out without them, Linic said, speaking in Split last week. Finance Minister Mato Crkvenac said last week the government would not give up its reforms but step them up this autumn. (hina) rml