CROATIAN GOVT PRESIDENT VALENTIC AT TODAY'S NEWS CONFERENCE

ZAGREB, Sep 6, (Hina)- The President of the Croatian Government, Nikica Valentic, told today's press conference, that in his opinion, the teachers' strike was an attempt to "destablilise and destroy" the government. The mass strike by teachers at kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools, was announced by three education unions which claim that the Government did not adhere to its agreement with the unions on wages, education curriculum, etc. "We agree with the rights of workers to strike but not with blocking entrances at schools, which are not their property," Valentic said, adding that the Government had fulfilled all its obligations from an agreement with the unions in April. Valentic called on teachers to return to work tomorrow (Sep 7). He said that if they did not return to work tomorrow, the Government, in a few days, would use it legal powers to ensure that schools functioned as they should. Valentic announced that the September session of Parliament would debate new laws regarding the Government and Ministers. The Government will propose new ministries for: Development and Reconstruction, Privatisation, and Education (instead the currently combined Ministry for Culture and Education). Valentic said that next week new Ministers would be announced. He said that the Minister for Culture and Education, Vesna Girardi Jurkic, contributed greatly to the Government. However, despite it not being her fault, she was severly criticised for problems in education and culture inherited from the previous Yugoslav system. Valentic announced that Minister Girardi Jurkic would step down and thanked her for her contribution to the Government. He said that earnings were greater than what was estimated in the Budget - but, unfortunately expenditure was higher than earnings. He stressed that Defence would be given priority when it came to State expenditure. This was because it was not certain if Croatia, even though it wanted to reslolve its problems peacefully, would be able to do so. (Hina) jn sd 062132 MET sep 94