The Croatian Prime Minister and president of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Jadranka Kosor, said on Friday Croatia needed peace and stability and to close its European Union entry talks, adding that any form of instability represented an obstacle on Zagreb's EU path.
The negotiations must be wrapped up, investments realised, so that the economy could grow. This is what we are working on and there should be no compromises in the fight against corruption, Kosor told reporters after the talks with representatives of the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP), asked to comment on yesterday's protests of disgruntled citizens.
Stressing that she was confident that a large number of citizens understood that, Kosor said that Croatia had received good news in the past few days concerning the chapters in its EU entry talks which Zagreb still needed to close.
"This will most certainly mean additional economic support," Kosor said.
The PM reiterated that her cabinet, despite requests from the opposition, had not cut pensions and salaries last year. Kosor said the government also cancelled the so-called crisis tax, amended the law on income tax under which the salaries of some 1.5 million people have gone up.
"I want this to be recognised. If we are in the streets, we will not wrap up the EU entry talks," Kosor said.
