RIJECKA BANKA REHABILITATION SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED

RIJEKA, Dec 30 (Hina) - A shareholders' meeting, attended by Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa and Deputy Prime Minister Borislav Skegro, marked the end of the successful rehabilitation of Rijecka Banka on Monday. "The Government attaches great importance to the rehabilitation of Rijecka Banka (...) as one of the most important fctors in the Croatian monetary system," Matesa told the meeting. Rehabilitation was initiated in May to enable Rijecka Banka "to function on the international money market" on an equal footing with other partners, Matesa said. Rehabilitation would be followed by the difficult process of restructuring, after which the bank could take its rightful place "as a new, sound bank," Matesa announced. "The Government will support the Bank's efforts to function on the world market - particularly if these efforts stimulate the growth and development of Croatian economy," he said. He announced that the rehabilitation of big Rijeka-based companies - Torpedo and Brodomaterijal - was on the agenda of this afternoon's Government session. Deputy Prime Minister Borislav Skegro said the bank rehabilitation project had encountered much initial resistance and misunderstanding. "Thanks to the concerted efforts of the Croatian Government, the State Agency for Deposit Insurance and Bank Rehabilitation and Rijecka Banka officers, with the full support of clients and taxpayers, we have brought the rehabilitation of Rijecka Banka to a successful end," Skegro said. (hina) as 301522 MET dec 96