OPPOSITION HAS RESERVATION TOWARDS GOVT MEASURES

ZAGREB, Aug 28 (Hina) - The Democratic Centre (DC) supports only the reduction of privileged pensions, while everything else is debatable and questionable and we will voice our opinion on the issue upon receiving real information, DC deputy president Vesna Skare Ozbolt said Tuesday commenting on a government draft programme for the rationalisation of social rights. Skare Ozbolt called upon the government to give the public the real results of the proposed measures and their effect on the standard of those whose rights would be reduced. She believes the proposed measures are closely connected with an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Skare Ozbolt said the party would demand a parliament's discussion on the agreement and its ratification. The agreement with the International Monetary Fund neither includes the country's economic strategy nor offers a solution. It is not concerned with a high unemployment rate, it rather encourages it, said Skare Ozbolt. She called upon the government to clearly states the real situation in the country, stressing the DC would not support "political demagogy". The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said it cannot support the government's measures. The HDZ proposed that social rights be brought to last year's level, members of the HDZ Presidency Jadranka Kosor said, stressing the party had received a verbal invitation for tomorrow's meeting with vice premier Zeljka Antunovic on the issue. The chairman the parliament's committee for the Homeland defence War Juraj Njavro opposes the reduction of Homeland War soldiers' rights. (hina) it sb