ZAGREB, April 27 (Hina) - A bill on the reconstruction and development of Vukovar should help eliminate the war damage, estimated at ten billion kuna (some $1.2 billion), in said eastern Croatian area, Assistant Reconstruction
Minister Venko Curlin said in parliament on Friday. The bill should encourage economy and provide conditions for returns to the Vukovar area, he added. Said bill envisages financing the reconstruction of Vukovar from the state budget, loans, donations, and other sources. All means would be collected in a special fund which would serve for the rebuilding of housing and office buildings and the infrastructure, and for financing demining. The bill is vague about the amounts. They would be established annually by the government, when drawing up the state budget. Funds for new jobs would be earmarked by the Ministry of Crafts, Small and Medium Businesses, while the Ministry of Educ
ZAGREB, April 27 (Hina) - A bill on the reconstruction and
development of Vukovar should help eliminate the war damage,
estimated at ten billion kuna (some $1.2 billion), in said eastern
Croatian area, Assistant Reconstruction Minister Venko Curlin said
in parliament on Friday.
The bill should encourage economy and provide conditions for
returns to the Vukovar area, he added.
Said bill envisages financing the reconstruction of Vukovar from
the state budget, loans, donations, and other sources. All means
would be collected in a special fund which would serve for the
rebuilding of housing and office buildings and the infrastructure,
and for financing demining.
The bill is vague about the amounts. They would be established
annually by the government, when drawing up the state budget. Funds
for new jobs would be earmarked by the Ministry of Crafts, Small and
Medium Businesses, while the Ministry of Education and Sports would
finance the training of personnel in the Vukovar area.
The Vukovar bill also envisages special incentives, for instance
exception from customs duty on the import of economic equipment,
and benefits in the payment of contributions for pension and health
insurance.
Special measures would be taken to encourage crafts, cooperatives,
and small and medium businesses. Students from Vukovar would be
entitled to scholarships, provided they take employment in Vukovar
upon completing education.
All parliamentary benches endorsed the bill. Most remarks referred
to the fact that the bill fails to specify the funds which would be
earmarked from the state budget.
The whole economic picture of Vukovar has to be changed, it was
said. During debate, representatives of the six parties making up
the ruling coalition and of the opposition failed to refrain from
mutual rebuking for stalling in dealing with Vukovar's problems.
MPs of the coalition's Social Democratic Party said legislation on
areas of special government concern and income and profit taxes
provide solid ground for a balanced development of Croatian areas.
They refuted remarks from the opposition to the effect that the
passing of a Vukovar reconstruction law was a means to win points at
upcoming local elections, or "a pre-electoral platitude and red
demagogy," as the opposition said.
(hina) ha sb