PARLIAMENT WRAPS UP THURSDAY'S SITTING

ZAGREB, Oct 18 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament wrapped up Thursday's work with a debate on a final bill on war veterans' rights, but the strongly opposed standpoints of the opposition and the ruling coalition's five parties did not come closer. The opposition continues to maintain it is impermissible to save on war veterans if the saved funds will not be used for economic development or new jobs. They claim the government has not changed its mind about saving 550 million kuna ($67.1 million) on the annual level. The opposition announced it would move numerous amendments to impact at least some restrictions that are planned. The ruling coalition MPs concede the bill is restrictive but is at least feasible, unlike the current one. They rejected objections that the bill was being enacted too fast and that it required another parliamentary reading. The opposition and part of the ruling coalition agreed, however, in one thing, namely that the government should disclose the agreement with the International Monetary Fund in order to see if the proposed savings were the result of Croatia's international commitments. (hina) ha