ZAGREB, May 22 (Hina) - By forwarding a proposal on changes to the ministries' and state administrative organisations' scope of responsibilities, which was discussed in parliament on Wednesday, the Croatian government wants to
introduce changes in the ministries of public works, reconstruction and building; foreign affairs; culture; maritime affairs, transport and communications; and agriculture and forestry.
ZAGREB, May 22 (Hina) - By forwarding a proposal on changes to the
ministries' and state administrative organisations' scope of
responsibilities, which was discussed in parliament on Wednesday,
the Croatian government wants to introduce changes in the
ministries of public works, reconstruction and building; foreign
affairs; culture; maritime affairs, transport and communications;
and agriculture and forestry. #L#
The draft changes to the Law on the Ministries' Organisation and
Scope of Responsibilities was presented in parliament by Deputy
Justice Minister Miljenko Kovac.
All activities regarding public information will be within the
scope of powers of the Culture Ministry, Kovac said.
The consolidation of farmland and forests, as well as inspections
regarding forest management, hunting and farming products, will be
transferred from the Justice Ministry to the Agriculture and
Forestry Ministry.
All activities concerning protocol and official procedure, as well
as benefits, privileges and immunity of foreign representatives
and organisations, will be transferred to the Foreign Ministry.
Under the Law on Telecommunications, the international co-
ordination of the use of radio frequencies, as well as the issuing
of radio permits for domestic and foreign persons, and the control
of the radio-frequency spectrum which is within the scope of the
Institute for Telecommunications, will no longer be within the
scope of duties of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and
Communications.
The broadcasting of radio and TV programmes will be within the scope
of responsibilities of the Radio and Television Council.
The government has also proposed the cancellation of the State
Water Administration, whose responsibilities will be transferred
to the Ministry of Public Works, Reconstruction and Building and
the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Zoning.
The bill envisages the establishment of two new state-
administrative organisations: the State Directorate for State
Administration and Local Self-Government, which will be separated
from the Justice Ministry, and the State Institute for Radiology
and Nuclear Safety.
The State Institute for Family, Maternity and Youth would be
renamed into the State Institute for Family, Children and Youth. If
the parliament accepts it, the establishment of counselling and
family centres will be transferred from the Institute to the Labour
and Social Welfare Ministry.
Parliamentary deputies presented a number of objections to the
government's draft, describing it as incomplete and unclear.
They also warned that the announced changes could cause chaos in the
state administration and ministries. Democratic Centre (DC)
deputies object that the government has kept one of the most
expensive state systems in countries in transition. Damir Kajin of
the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) said that the state
administration was more centralised than before as well as
"bureaucratised, slow and inert".
(hina) rml sb