PARLIAMENT ADOPTS BUDGET EXECUTION REPORT

ZAGREB, Oct 4 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Friday adopted a report on the execution of the state budget in this year's first six months, as well as several other acts debated recently. #L# According to the report, the state collected 32.8 billion kuna (EUR4.43 billion) in revenues in the year's first half, of the 70 billion planned for the entire year. Expenditure at the half-year level totalled 34.1 billion kuna (EUR4.61 billion), which was 48 percent of the 71.1 billion envisaged on the annual level. Revenues from excise duties on alcohol and tobacco products did not meet expectations, while a 380 million kuna (EUR51.4 million) spending overrun was registered for salaries in the military, police, and education. Also today, parliament adopted a national macroeconomic development strategy, which is part of the "Croatia in the 21st Century" general strategy. The main goals of this document are an increase in Gross Domestic Product, the reduction of unemployment and the foreign debt, export stimulation, and legal security. Parliament also adopted an annual report on cadastral surveys in 2001, as well as a national strategy for disabled persons until 2006. The latter contains some 60 measures aimed at improving living for the disabled. It binds state and local bodies to coordinate their activities regarding the disabled in view of avoiding inequality and inadequate information in the exercising of their rights. Parliament endorsed bills on an ombudsman for children, a schooling institute, and on the protection of persons and property. MPs did not endorse bills of amendments to the law on mediation in employment and the law on Value Added Tax. Parliament also turned down a motion for the establishment of a commission of inquiry which was to have probed the liability of the defence ministry for a list of disabled war veterans from the Zadar and Osijek-Baranja counties which was leaked to the media. (hina) ha