ZAGREB, July 4 (Hina) - Croatia's parliament on Thursday adopted a final bill on the organisation of award games and games of chances. The government abandoned its earlier intention of imposing ban on the organisation of such games by
the media.
ZAGREB, July 4 (Hina) - Croatia's parliament on Thursday adopted a
final bill on the organisation of award games and games of chances.
The government abandoned its earlier intention of imposing ban on
the organisation of such games by the media. #L#
An amendment, proposed by the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), was
adopted envisaging that the media-organisers of the award games
should pay five-percent tax and the proceeds from the tax would be
given to Croatia's Red Cross.
Despite the government's opposition, MPs adopted an amendment
under which the organisers of the betting will pay five percent of
the total of payments for the concession. The government insisted
on a higher percent.
A new law on the religious communities' legal position was adopted
as well. The law provides for conditions for the establishment of a
new religious community. Under it, a religious community can be
registered as an association of citizens, if it is active at least
five years and if it has at least 50 founders.
An amendment proposed by the HNS/PGS/SBHS (the Croatian People's
Party with two regional parties) bench asking for the revocation of
the legal obligation of pre-school institutions to organise
religious classes, was turned down.
The bench's head, Vesna Pusic, said the legal obligation, if it
remained in the law, created a space for the segregation in
kindergartens.
Deputy Justice Minister Miljenko Kovac explained that the
elimination of the contentious legal provision would put Roman
Catholic faithful in advantage before other believers, given that
religious classes for Roman Catholics were stipulated in the
agreements Zagreb concluded with the Vatican.
This explanation was criticised by Social Democrat MP Zlatko Seselj
who claimed that the agreements between Croatia and Holy See were
too broadly interpreted. In his opinion, the documents do not
stipulate the possibility for the Roman Catholic religious classes
in kindergartens.
An amendment, proposed by the SDP on early or extra classes of
religion in kindergartens, was also turned down by a majority of
votes.
(hina) ms sb