PARLIAMENT SUPPORTS SEVERAL BILLS IN FIRST READING

ZAGREB, Jan 24 (Hina) - At the beginning of Thursday's session the Croatian parliament supported several bills in the first reading. MPs supported a bill of amendments to the law on areas of special state care, under which temporary occupied property would be returned to its real owners by the end of this year. A motion submitted by the Opposition's Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) that the parliament distance itself from a part of President Stjepan Mesic's speech held in the parliament on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Croatia's international recognition, was dismissed. Mesic accused the former authorities of antagonising the Serb national minority in Croatia, thus, in a way, helping Slobodan Milosevic's Greater Serbian policy. The parliament supported bills on the security market and the take over of joint stock companies, which aim at creating the framework for the development of the capital market in Croatia. A bill on prize games and games of chance was forwarded to the second reading. Bills on the financial plans of funds for development, employment and regional development was added to the agenda of the 19th session. Also on the agenda will be a bill of amendments to a recently adopted law on holidays, submitted by the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS). MPs resumed the session with a discussion on the final bill on coorporatives. (hina) it