ZAGREB, July 12 (Hina) - At the end of its 23rd session, the last one in the regular spring-summer sitting, the Croatian parliament on Friday adopted a set of decisions, including changes to the Law on Areas of Special State
Concern.
ZAGREB, July 12 (Hina) - At the end of its 23rd session, the last one
in the regular spring-summer sitting, the Croatian parliament on
Friday adopted a set of decisions, including changes to the Law on
Areas of Special State Concern. #L#
The changes introduce a third category of areas of special state
concern, including municipalities and cities which lag behind in
development but were not exposed to direct war operations.
Which municipalities will be included in the third category will be
decided by the government at the end of each year for the following
year.
The law envisages that 15 percent of the country's overall
population at the most can live in areas of special state concern.
The law binds the government to return houses and flats temporarily
used by displaced people and refugees to its real owners by the end
of 2002.
The parliament also adopted changes to the Law on the Rights of
Displaced Persons and Refugees, and a conclusion binding the
government to pay the rent for houses and flats used temporarily by
displaced people and refugees, if so decided by courts.
The parliament confirmed a contract on collateral between Croatia
and the European Investment Bank for Reconstruction and
Development for the financing of final works on the Vukovar Gorica-
Vrbovsko section of the Zagreb-Rijeka highway.
The loan is worth 60 million euros, with a repayment period of 20
years, a five and a half years grace, and a favourable interest
rate.
By appointing Nevenka Sernhorst Constitutional Court judge at the
proposal of the Committee on the Constitution, Rule Book, and the
Political System, the parliament completed its regular
spring/summer session, which under the Constitution can last until
July 15 at the latest.
Parliament President Zlatko Tomcic said that after that deadline he
would call an extraordinary session, which was endorsed by all
party benches.
At the extraordinary session, the parliament should confirm the new
government and discuss a constitutional bill on national
minorities.
(hina) rml