ZAGREB, July 4 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Wednesday debated amendments introducing a third group of areas of special government concern, which would comprise undeveloped areas and 19 border municipalities. The first two
groups comprise areas which were occupied during last decade's war. The third would comprise about 80 municipalities in all, said Venko Curlin, Deputy Minister for Public Works, Reconstruction and Construction, explaining a final bill of amendments to the Areas of Special Government Concern Act. The bill gives citizens, mainly refugees from Bosnia, the right to purchase state-owned flats or houses in said areas if they have lived there constantly for the past ten years. Moreover, Croatian citizens who do not reside in said areas but have a demolished house or flat there, and no house or flat elsewhere, would be entitled to free construction materials. Civil servants in areas of
ZAGREB, July 4 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Wednesday
debated amendments introducing a third group of areas of special
government concern, which would comprise undeveloped areas and 19
border municipalities.
The first two groups comprise areas which were occupied during last
decade's war. The third would comprise about 80 municipalities in
all, said Venko Curlin, Deputy Minister for Public Works,
Reconstruction and Construction, explaining a final bill of
amendments to the Areas of Special Government Concern Act.
The bill gives citizens, mainly refugees from Bosnia, the right to
purchase state-owned flats or houses in said areas if they have
lived there constantly for the past ten years.
Moreover, Croatian citizens who do not reside in said areas but have
a demolished house or flat there, and no house or flat elsewhere,
would be entitled to free construction materials.
Civil servants in areas of special government concern would lose
the right to salary benefits, but would be entitled to tax relief as
all other local residents.
Benches of the ruling Social Democrats (SDP), Social Liberals
(HSLS), and the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) endorsed the bill,
hopeful the incentives would urge the people to stay in said areas.
The opposition's Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) will vote against
the bill. They maintain the situation in areas of special
government concern is deteriorating and that the government
measures exacerbate it further.
Parliament today also debated a bill on the stimulation of small
businesses, which employ 63 percent of all employed in the economy
and account for 55 percent of the gross domestic product.
The bill defines the goals, development programme and measures for
the stimulation.
Deputy Crafts, Small and Medium-sized Businesses Minister Ivan
Knok said a small business was a company with 40 million kuna in
annual turnover and up to 250 employees. More than 90 percent of
Croatian companies fall into this category.
Most MPs endorsed the bill, saying that small businesses, as the
most important segment of the economy, should be stimulated.
Parliament resumes its 13th session on Thursday.
(hina) ha