Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said on Thursday he had understanding for the demands of protesting milk farmers, adding however that the police had had to intervene because it was unlawful to block roads.
Milanovic said the government had a lot of good will and understanding for the situation it inherited and that it wanted to act as a mediator in talks between milk farmers and representatives of the dairy industry. He, however, reiterated that order must be restored in this sector.
"I don't think that milk farmers took to the streets because they were being manipulated by an opposition party. I believe opposition parties are not capable of such a thing. Milk farmers have problems, we will have to resolve them patiently and slowly," Milanovic told reporters after the government session.
Commenting on criticism made by the opposition that milk farmers were being arrested in the dead of night, Milanovic reiterated he had understanding for milk farmers, but that it was not okay to block roads.
"That's unlawful. The protest can last for some time, as a warning, but when the traffic is blocked entirely the police have to act, in a civilised and decent manner, but they have to do their job," Milanovic said.
The police arrested 29 farmers on Wednesday evening who had been protesting for several days outside the Dukat dairy company in Zagreb and blocked Slavonska Avenue.
Slavonska Avenue, one of Zagreb's arterial roads, was closed to traffic on Wednesday afternoon because it was blocked with tractors by farmers protesting outside Dukat, which is located in the nearby Caviceva Street. The police unblocked the avenue early on Thursday morning.
Milanovic also refuted Opposition claims that the government appointed politically suitable people to state-owned companies. "I believe we are more transparent (than the former government)," Milanovic said.
