CROATIAN MPS CRITICISE HOMELAND WAR VETERANS' ASSOCIATIONS

ZAGREB, March 29 (Hina) - Representatives of party benches of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) Friday harshly criticised the irregularity in the work of 30 associations of Croatian Homeland Defence War veterans during 1998 and 1999, as established by the State Audit Bureau. The Review board probed the business of 30 such organisations which in 1998 had 49 million kuna, and the following year almost 59 million kuna. Most of the resources were obtained from the government budget. Some associations, SDP's Branimir Tusek said, spent more than 80 percent of the funds for salaries, so the question is how much remains for the work of the organisations. Most of the expenses are for entertainment, so, for example, HVIDRA spent 635,000 kuna for this. One association, Tusek stressed, sponsored a professional soccer club with more than a million kuna. He stressed that the organisations' leaders were involved in illegal acts, and the review results should be forwarded to the state prosecutor's office and the state attorney's office, the Interior Ministry, as well as the associations' members to see how their organisations function. Luka Roic of the HSS warned that numerous associations were spending money for no stated intention, that faults were found in the work of the accountancy offices, large funds were spent for great daily fees, official travels and the repair of official vehicles. The State Audit Office also established numerous irregularities in the work of clinics, particularly with the purchase of goods and services at higher prices than market ones, and these institutions had about two billion kuna annually. Irregularities were also established in the work of national parks. (hina) lml sb