ZAGREB, Jan 26 (Hina) - A majority of Croatian members of parliament on Friday endorsed a draft bill on farmland, but owing to a lack of quorum in the Sabor's House of Representatives, there was no voting on the law. The strongest
opposition party - the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) - gave most objections to the act. HDZ deputies in particular insisted on the elimination of a provision under which foreign legal entities could get a concession on arable land for 99 years. Vladmir Seks, for instance, complained that with such a concession Croatia "would give up its biggest national wealth and render it in the function of other interests." This was one of the reasons why the HDZ would not vote for this bill. During a parliamentary debate on the matter some deputies warned that the law could create problems for Croatia's bids to enter the European Union as the document did not recognise the right of fore
ZAGREB, Jan 26 (Hina) - A majority of Croatian members of parliament
on Friday endorsed a draft bill on farmland, but owing to a lack of
quorum in the Sabor's House of Representatives, there was no voting
on the law.
The strongest opposition party - the Croatian Democratic Union
(HDZ) - gave most objections to the act. HDZ deputies in particular
insisted on the elimination of a provision under which foreign
legal entities could get a concession on arable land for 99 years.
Vladmir Seks, for instance, complained that with such a concession
Croatia "would give up its biggest national wealth and render it in
the function of other interests." This was one of the reasons why
the HDZ would not vote for this bill.
During a parliamentary debate on the matter some deputies warned
that the law could create problems for Croatia's bids to enter the
European Union as the document did not recognise the right of
foreigners to won the farmland in Croatia.
Agriculture Minister Bozidar Pankretic asked from the lower house
to give support to the stand that foreigners could not buy the
agricultural land of Croatia and that this stand should be
expressed during Zagreb's negotiations with the Union.
The House of Representatives finished its work this week and will
resume its session next Wednesday.
(hina) sb ms