LIBERAL PARTY FOR COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

ZAGREB, April 10 (Hina) - The Liberal Party bench in the Croatian parliament believes that Croatia needs a comprehensive strategy for economic development based on regional principles because a parliamentary debate on the Suncani Hvar hotel chain will not result in significant changes if the privatisation model is not radically changed. #L# Addressing reporters in parliament on Thursday, the head of the LS's economy committee, Mario Lesina, advocated a comprehensive and long-term development strategy which would define strategic branches and economic subjects as the linchpins of development in each region. "Suncani Hvar is only one in a series of privatisation affairs, it is not the first nor the last one, which is why we need radical amendments to the privatisation law and model in order to appoint owners and transfer part of ownership rights to workers," Lesina said. In that regard he proposed the establishment of a new institution to replace, as he said, the inefficient Croatian Privatisation Fund. Asked to comment on a proposal by the Social Liberals that parliament bind the Interior Ministry to conduct an investigation into the sale of Suncani Hvar, LS president Zlatko Kramaric said parliament "does not need to assume the role of a policeman on duty". He believes the issue should be dealt with by competent bodies. (hina) it