ZAGREB, Oct 18 (Hina) - The Croatian government has adopted amendments to the Final Bill on the Rights of Croatian Soldiers as proposed by war veterans' associations, except for the amendment seeking that in defining the term
volunteer emphasis be placed on the members of the National Guard armed volunteer units and the Croatian Defence Forces (HOS). The Government has adopted all amendments except for the one on said volunteers, Deputy War Veterans Minister Josip Vdovic said at a regular government session on Thursday. Under the bill, a Homeland War volunteer is a volunteer who participated in the defence of Croatia's sovereignty voluntarily from 1991 to January 15, 1992 in the duration of at least 60 days or less if he was killed of prevented from participating in the country's defence due to wounding, imprisonment or illness. Under the amendments, disabled war veterans would have the right to unemployment allow
ZAGREB, Oct 18 (Hina) - The Croatian government has adopted
amendments to the Final Bill on the Rights of Croatian Soldiers as
proposed by war veterans' associations, except for the amendment
seeking that in defining the term volunteer emphasis be placed on
the members of the National Guard armed volunteer units and the
Croatian Defence Forces (HOS).
The Government has adopted all amendments except for the one on said
volunteers, Deputy War Veterans Minister Josip Vdovic said at a
regular government session on Thursday.
Under the bill, a Homeland War volunteer is a volunteer who
participated in the defence of Croatia's sovereignty voluntarily
from 1991 to January 15, 1992 in the duration of at least 60 days or
less if he was killed of prevented from participating in the
country's defence due to wounding, imprisonment or illness.
Under the amendments, disabled war veterans would have the right to
unemployment allowances upon completed professional
rehabilitation and registration with the Employment Bureau. The
allowances would be in the amount of the salary of an active member
of the Armed Forces of the same rank and the longest period during
which it would be granted is one year.
War veterans' children without one parent would receive allowances
amounting to their family pension for a period of one year after
their education is completed and they fail to find employment.
The amendments also regulate the right to free school books and
education and set minimum bonuses on pensions for participation in
the Homeland War.
Pensions for disabled war veterans would be increased by 1.5% of the
base for every month spent in the Homeland War, the maximum bonus
amounting to 100% of the base.
The amendments also define regulations regarding Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder, taking into account the Health Ministry's opinion
that the disorder can appear two years after the traumatic event.
PTSD is a direct consequence of participation in the defence and is
diagnosed on the basis of medical documentation obtained within two
years from the cessation of participation in the defence. It can be
diagnosed after this period in exceptional cases, for example if a
soldier was undergoing hospital treatment or was treated in the
national centre for psychotrauma.
(hina) rml