GOVERNMENT ADOPTS SERIES OF DECISIONS AT CLOSED-DOOR SESSION

ZAGREB, Feb 27 (Hina) - At the closed-door part of Thursday's session, the Croatian government adopted a series of decisions, including a report on the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with European Union nations in January 2003. #L# The government adopted a decree changing tariff rates in line with an agreement on Croatia's accession to CEFTA. Also adopted was a decision on providing the prosecution of the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague with evidence on missing, detained, identified, exchanged, and liberated persons, war and civilian disabled persons, and casualties. The government suggested parliament turn down a bill on the establishment of a fund for Homeland War veterans and their families with the explanation that it was not clear what type of fund this would be. In connection with this, the government bound the finance, economy, and war veterans' ministries to draw up regulations for stock management for veterans and their families. Also adopted was a decision on using state-owned flats by families of killed and disabled war veterans. The government did not endorse changes to legislation on local and regional self-government, but extended the deadline to draft a bill to that effect. The government suggested parliament turn down MP Vesna Skare- Ozbolt's project "Food for All", stating that the draft contained incorrect data on the number of destitute people and incorrect assessments of a programme to combat poverty and social segregation. The government forwarded into parliament for urgent adoption a bill of amendments to the law on primary and secondary school textbooks. The government adopted a conclusion on granting funds for 442 programmes and projects proposed by 389 associations in the amount of 17.1 million kuna (EUR2.25 million). (hina) ha