FARMERS FROM EASTERN CROATIA TO STAGE WARNING PROTEST

( Editorial: --> 1016 ) OSIJEK, July 31 (Hina) - The Administrative and Supervisory Committee of the Union of Associations of Farmers of Slavonia and Baranja on Friday decided to stage a day-long public protest between 7 A.M. and 7 P.M. on Tuesday August 4. They will block a road with farming machines and cars near Piskorevci, in the eastern Croatian Osijek-Baranja County. If the request they already forwarded to the government is not complied with, the Union will in the shortest possible time make a complete blockade of all roads in Slavonia and Baranja, Union president Antun Laslo told reporters in Osijek today. The Union had requested that the guaranteed purchase price for wheat be set at 75 US cents per kilogram for all agricultural manufacturers, including those included in the value added tax (VAT) system. According to Laslo, the conclusions reached at a session earlier today will be forwarded to Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, parliament president Vlatko Pavletic and Premier Zlatko Matesa. "All people of good will may take part in the protest, but we won't let our actions be politicised", Laslo said. He emphasised that farmers from Slavonia were still willing to talk with government officials, but not in Zagreb or Osijek, but on the site of the protest. "If (the talks) do take place before the blockade, we will accept them, but our demands must be taken into consideration and signed", Laslo said. Union vice president Ivan Opic said the Union "only fights for the enforcement of the Croatian government's decisions". He recalled that last autumn the government had established a 75 US cents per kg guaranteed purchase price for wheat. Union representatives from several Slavonia counties expressed dissatisfaction with the overall situation in agriculture, especially with the import of wheat, cattle and other products. They emphasised that with VAT the price of wheat could drop to about 30 US cents per kg. (hina) ha 311604 MET jul 98