PARLIAMENT DEBATES DISSOLUTION OF FINANCIAL POLICE

ZAGREB, July 12 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Thursday wrapped up a debate on a package of five bills on the dissolution of the financial police whose powers are transferred to other Finance Ministry departments. The dissolution of the financial police was endorsed by the party benches of the ruling coalition, which said the bills were in line with the announced rationalisation of the state administration. The bills were opposed by the benches of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), the Democratic Centre (DC) and the Croatian Party of Rights/Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HSP/HKDU), which said the dissolution of the service which had been achieving concrete results since its establishment in 1993 was inadmissible. Deputy Finance Minister Damir Kustrak said during the debate that most members of the financial police would be reassigned to the tax administration or other state services. The parliament also debated, in urgent procedure, a bill on changes to special duties on alcoholic drinks, which reduces excise taxes on alcohol from 80 to 60 kuna per litre of alcohol. The parliament also wrapped up a debate on a bill on the protection of persons and property, which allows foreign nationals to seek employment in security services, and a report by the Finance Ministry on the execution of last year's budget. The parliament will vote on the bills tomorrow, before its closed- door session about cooperation with the Hague tribunal. (hina) sb rml