ZAGREB, Dec 23 (Hina) - Economic development, encouragement to the domestic industry and higher employment, a rise in Gross Domestic Product and EU and NATO membership until the end of the term of office are some of priorities in the
agenda of the new Croatian government led by Ivo Sanader, who was given support by the parliament for the said programme on Tuesday.
ZAGREB, Dec 23 (Hina) - Economic development, encouragement to the
domestic industry and higher employment, a rise in Gross Domestic
Product and EU and NATO membership until the end of the term of office
are some of priorities in the agenda of the new Croatian government
led by Ivo Sanader, who was given support by the parliament for the
said programme on Tuesday.#L#
In the economic sector, the main tasks include bids to strengthen
entrepreneurship, cut taxes, create more jobs, improve social welfare,
reduce the state administration's costs and invest more funds in new
technologies and science.
The purpose of the overhauling and downsizing in the state
administration is to render it more efficient and less expensive. This
move will enable the country not to incur so many foreign debts.
Sanader's programme also envisages the issuance of long-term bonds on
the domestic market.
The agenda includes new strategies in privatisation and agriculture.
An agrobank should be set up for this purpose.
There is a programme stipulating the reconstruction of all
war-destroyed houses by 2006.
A special emphasis is put on the Adriatic Sea. A network of highways
is to be built, too.
A new organisation of the Interior Ministry is announced. The ongoing
reform in the defence sector will continue and a new strategy for the
country's security system has been drawn up.
The Ivo Sanader Cabinet says it will be determined in de-politicising
the judiciary and coping with corruption, bribery and the grey
economy.
A code of conduct for public officials is to be enacted, and efforts
will be invested so as to prevent conflict of interest of
office-holders.
The new government is planning to organise direct elections of heads
of municipalities, mayors, and county prefects.
It advocates the introduction of computer training since the first
grade of primary education. The government promises to make stronger
links between science and the economy.
During its four-year term, the Ivo Sanader Cabinet should increase
maternity benefits and allow mothers of three or more children to be
on three-year-long maternity leave. Child allowances will be granted
for undergraduates, too.
The position of pensioners is going to be improved through annual
rises in pensions in accordance with rises in GDP. Those above 65 will
be allowed to have hospital treatment and medicine free of charge.
The new government is in favour of seeing Croatia as a member of the
EU and NATO in the coming four years, and will promote relations with
the United States. It also believes that Croatia's active
participation in the anti-terrorist coalition is an important element
of its foreign policy.
Relations with neighbours will be developed on the principle of
good-neighbourly ties and the mutual respect of each other's
sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Efforts will be
made to settle open issues.
Sanader's government reiterates that it will comply with Croatia's
international obligations and support co-operation with the UN war
crimes tribunal in The Hague. It condemns all war crimes and supports
bids to bring all war criminals to justice.
Croatia has set up a stable legal system and can take over cases from
the Hague-based tribunal, Sanader said in his speech in the Sabor on
Tuesday.
(Hina) sb ms