ZAGREB, March 14 (Hina) - The final bill on security services, according to which a special council for their supervision would be established as appointed by the parliament, was on Thursday forwarded into parliamentary procedure by
the government. The final version of the bill stipulates a solution by which the Croatian parliament's speaker would participate in the work of the National Security Council. Alongside him, the council would also consist of the president, prime minister, a government member in charge of national security, ministers in charge of defence, internal and foreign affairs and justice, as well as army chief-of-staff. A quality supervision of the secret services was the first issue the parliament discussed in the bill's first reading. Vice-Premier Goran Granic said that in the bill, the position of secret services has for the first time been entirely regulated, with all coordination and su
ZAGREB, March 14 (Hina) - The final bill on security services,
according to which a special council for their supervision would be
established as appointed by the parliament, was on Thursday
forwarded into parliamentary procedure by the government.
The final version of the bill stipulates a solution by which the
Croatian parliament's speaker would participate in the work of the
National Security Council. Alongside him, the council would also
consist of the president, prime minister, a government member in
charge of national security, ministers in charge of defence,
internal and foreign affairs and justice, as well as army chief-of-
staff.
A quality supervision of the secret services was the first issue the
parliament discussed in the bill's first reading.
Vice-Premier Goran Granic said that in the bill, the position of
secret services has for the first time been entirely regulated,
with all coordination and supervision mechanisms.
According to the bill, Croatia would have a decreased number of
services -- an intelligence agency, a counter-intelligence agency
and a military intelligence agency.
The parliament was also forwarded a final bill on health
participation fees which, Health Minister Andro Vlahusic, said
relates to hospital and specialist treatments.
Retired single people with monthly incomes not over 1,729.52 kuna,
and people whose monthly incomes by family member do not exceed
1,330 kuna will not have to pay the fees.
The parliament was also sent into the first reading a bill on
strategic goods reserves. To fill these reserves, about 600 million
kuna will be needed in five years, it is estimated, and a part of the
funds would be secured by selling surplus products.
The government was informed about the reconstruction of Vukovar.
Reconstruction Minister Radimir Cacic said that the funds for the
reconstruction of Vukovar acquired from the government's
Challenger plane were spent even before it was sold. Funds from
other ministry provisions were used for the reconstruction, and the
expenses were covered after the Challenger was sold, he said.
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