MINTAS-HODAK MEETS WORLD BANK PENSION REFORM EXPERTS

( Editorial: --> 3640 ) ZAGREB, March 31 (Hina) - Croatian Vice-Premier and Minister for European Integration Processes, Ljerka Mintas-Hodak, on Tuesday held talks with Michal Rutkowski and Robert Holzman, World Bank experts in charge of pension reforms. Following the meeting, Rutkowski said the talks tackled the pension reform in Croatia and the importance of improving living standards of future generations of Croatian pensioners. The two sides also exchanged views on the best possible ways to carry out the reform. The World Bank delegation presented positive experiences of other countries which had carried out pension reforms so that Croatian experts could carry out reforms in line with Croatia's needs. Robert Holzman said that he and his colleague yesterday met a team of experts in charge of carrying out the reform of Croatia's pension system. Holzman said they were impressed with what Croatian experts had done so far on this plane. "We discussed how far we have gone with the reform," said Mintas- Hodak, adding that the experiences of World Bank experts were very important for Croatia and would serve as a basis for further work of Croatian experts. The meeting also tackled the assistance Croatia expected from the World Bank in adjusting its social sector and employment policy to the implementation of the pension reform. (hina) rm 311309 MET mar 98