VALENTIC SAYS GOVT'S CHIEF TASK IS TO STIMULATE INVESTMENT

ZAGREB, Jan 5 (Hina) - Price stability, their further decrease, budgetary discipline, the collection of taxes and duties were very important in the first quarter of 1995, because this period would be unfavorable for a money inflow into the Budget, Croatian Prime Minister Nikica Valentic, told a government session today. Valentic said there would be no increases in the prices of energy products, and no rise in the price of power supplies. He said the chief tasks in 1995 would be to stimulate investment and cut interest rates. This was why the Government would continue to restructure some twenty firms and reorganize banks. Deputy Prime Minister Borislav Skegro announced that an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission would arrive in Croatia at the beginning of the next week to carry out the first revision of a stand-by arrangement. Skegro said that the collection of taxes in last December had been below expectations, creating difficulties for the Croatian National Bank. National Bank Governor, Pero Jurkovic, said that great efforts had been undertaken to bring domestic net assets to forecast level. He added there were some incursions in the monetary system last November. (hina) jn sd mms 051441 MET jan 95