CROATIAN PARLIAMENT RESUMES DEBATE ON PRIVATISATION AUDIT BILL

ZAGREB, April 26 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament (Sabor) on Thursday resumed a debate on a final bill on the audit of ownership transformation and privatisation, for which MPs yesterday judged that it left much to be desired and requested a third reading. All parliamentary benches agreed during yesterday's debate that the audit of ownership transformation and privatisation was necessary because illegal acts had been committed in the process. However, most deputies believe the government bill should be discussed once again since its current version will not meet public expectations. The benches of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the Democratic Centre (DC) requested that the bill be sent in the third reading. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) benches support the bill but believe important changes must be made while the benches of the Liberal Party/Croatian People's Party (LS/HNS) and the Croatian Party of Rights/Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HSP/HKDU) presented a set of objections as well. The most frequently mentioned objection was that the bill did not envisage the auditing of transformation and privatisation in all companies but only in those which are suspected of fraudulent operations. Most deputies believe the audit should be conducted in as short a period as possible because foreign investors will not buy companies in which audits are being conducted. Many deputies objected that the bill was being discussed only now, its first reading having taken place in June last year. The debate on the bill has resumed today. The Sabor will today also consider a final bill on changes to the Law on State Audit, which would authorise the State Audit Office to carry out privatisation audit. (hina) rml