PARLIAMENT SESSION ENDS WITH DEBATE ON BUDGET REVISION

ZAGREB, Oct 17 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament ended its Wednesday session with individual debates about a draft budget revision, and most objections by MPs referred to a proposal on seeking new loans worth 1.9 billion kuna (close to USD232 million). The draft envisages cuts in previously planned privatisation revenues from 6.5 to 5.5 billion kuna, and the deficit would be covered with new loans, probably in the form of new bond issues on the domestic market. MPs warned that since 1999 debts had climbed to more than 25 billion kuna (USD3.048 million) and that they would come due in the first several months of next year. A series of objections was presented to the planned increase in expenses for the ministries of defence and internal affairs, as well as to an increase in spending for intellectual services. Ivan Jarnjak of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) wondered if intellectual services were really more important than childbirth allowances while Social Liberal Zeljko Glavan requested that the government explain the increases. MPs also objected to cuts in health costs, including those for the purchase of medical equipment, particularly in the light of last week's tragic events in Croatian hospitals, where 21 kidney patients died during hemodialysis. The parliament today also discussed a bill on changes to the Law on the Execution of the State Budget. The parliament will vote about the two drafts on Friday. (hina) rml