ZAGREB, April 10 (Hina) - Numerous rebuttals and allegations of illegal activities marked Thursday's debate on the privatisation of the Suncani Hvar hotel company in the Croatian parliament.
ZAGREB, April 10 (Hina) - Numerous rebuttals and allegations of
illegal activities marked Thursday's debate on the privatisation
of the Suncani Hvar hotel company in the Croatian parliament. #L#
While opposition deputies accused those from the ruling coalition
of covering up irregularities in the privatisation of the hotel
chain, representatives of the ruling coalition recalled the
"failed" privatisation conducted during the rule of the Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ).
Nevertheless, all deputies stressed the need to start a
comprehensive debate on privatisation and development of tourism
in Croatia to eliminate different interpretations of those
processes.
The State Audit Office has been requested to analyse privatisation
processes, especially possible omissions and irregularities, so
that mistakes are not repeated and those responsible for them could
be punished.
Ljubo Cesic Rojs of the HDZ stirred up a heated debate by accusing
the incumbent authorities of starting the privatisation of the
tourist portfolio contrary to the Maritime Code, which envisages
that the maritime good cannot be anyone's private property.
"The authorities must not use the maritime good for political or
private purposes. That organised group of thieves is headed by the
state leadership and that death circle should be put on trial,"
Cesic said.
Social Democrat Marin Jurjevic said Cesic's statement was
scandalous and called on him to submit evidence on criminal
activities to the State Prosecution if he possessed it.
Jadranka Kosor of the HDZ requested the government to present a
detailed list of irregularities committed by the Croatian
Privatisation Fund's management board and establish
responsibility of its members.
Mario Kovac of the Croatian Social Liberal Party urged establishing
the responsibility of Vice-Premier Slavko Linic and the ministers
of finance, economy and tourism who he said wanted to sell Suncani
Hvar based on false information.
The SDP's Josip Leko defended the government stating the quality of
the incumbent government lay exactly in its not allowing the sale of
the Hvar-based hotel chain due to "minor irregularities".
"It was only in 2002 that we achieved privatisation goals - economic
growth, employment and modernisation - which cannot be said for the
privatisation process as conducted by the previous government,"
Leko said.
The debate will resume after a break.
(hina) rml