COALITION PARTNERS SUPPORT GOVT'S SOCIAL POLICY

ZAGREB, Aug 29 (Hina) - The leaders of Croatia's ruling five-party coalition on Wednesday supported once again a government's draft social policy and agreed on minor alterations, which will be discussed at a government session on Thursday, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said after a meeting of the coalition in Zagreb today. #L# Asked if those alterations would affect the amount of budgetary economies, which, according to previous estimates, should amount to about 700 million kuna, Racan said the intention to reduce social spending did not mean saving money but allocating it more justly. For example, the government is considering reducing differences in the allowances of disabled soldiers and civilians, Racan said. Asked whether the coalition has accepted some of the objections to the draft social reform forwarded by the government's social partners, Racan recalled that a series of meetings between the government and its social partners and non-government associations had taken place in the past few days. Racan is satisfied with the results of those consultations, which he describes as "welcome and well accepted." The consultations have also resulted in support for the government's strategy of changing the social policy, he said. Asked if there was a possibility for parliamentary deputies to contest the government's concept with amendments, Racan said he expected deputies to seriously consider the legal changes leading to the new social policy. "The Government has addressed this problem seriously and we have been working on this concept for months, therefore I expect representatives of the ruling coalition to be serious, too," he said. (hina) rml