ZAGREB, Dec 20 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday formulated draft changes to the Law on Areas of Special State Concern, as well as an action plan for the restitution of property until the end of next year, which is expected
to cost between 600 million and one billion kuna. The action plan for the restitution of property implements a government decision to restore property to people who fled Croatia by the end of 2002. According to the Ministry of Public Works and Reconstruction, some 21,000 housing facilities were, with or without foundation, used by people who were not their owners. A review has shown that 9,500 housing objects are still occupied by people who are not their owners, with 3,500 restitution requests having been submitted so far. A total of 5,000 housing units are required for permanent alternative accommodation, which is expected to cost 600 million kuna, of which the governme
ZAGREB, Dec 20 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday
formulated draft changes to the Law on Areas of Special State
Concern, as well as an action plan for the restitution of property
until the end of next year, which is expected to cost between 600
million and one billion kuna.
The action plan for the restitution of property implements a
government decision to restore property to people who fled Croatia
by the end of 2002.
According to the Ministry of Public Works and Reconstruction, some
21,000 housing facilities were, with or without foundation, used by
people who were not their owners. A review has shown that 9,500
housing objects are still occupied by people who are not their
owners, with 3,500 restitution requests having been submitted so
far.
A total of 5,000 housing units are required for permanent
alternative accommodation, which is expected to cost 600 million
kuna, of which the government has secured 120 million from the
budget, Reconstruction Minister Radimir Cacic said.
The problem will therefore have to be solved with long-term
subsidised loans, which has already been discussed in principle
with the Council of Europe's Development Bank. Attempts will be
made to provide part of the necessary funds through donations, for
which purpose a special meeting with foreign ambassadors has been
announced for January.
Not wishing to sound cynical, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said he
hoped some international representatives would on behalf of their
countries help with financial contributions at least as much as
they were helping with advice.
The changes to the Law on Areas of Special State Concern are
particularly directed at solving the problem of Bosnian Croat
refugees occupying other people's property.
These are approximately 6,000 families, which will be provided with
adequate flats or state-owned houses or given land plots and
construction material to build houses on their own, Minister Cacic
said.
Those who will be given houses or flats will have the opportunity to
purchase those housing units after they have used them for ten
years, under the conditions from the former Law on the Purchase of
Socially-Owned Flats. The legal changes also provide for the
possibility of purchasing the facilities sooner but under less
favourable conditions.
The funds needed for the implementation of those measures amount to
600 million kuna, Cacic said.
The government decided at today's session to set aside 1.2 million
kuna of current budgetary funds for the humanitarian campaign
"Dajmo da cuju" (Let's Help Them Hear).
In line with a government decision, municipalities and towns from
areas of special state concern will be granted an additional 20.6
million kuna of income tax revenues, while units of local self-
government will be granted 10.3 million kuna for current reserves.
The government today suggested that posthumous decorations be
bestowed on the members of the European Community Monitoring
Mission, who were killed in a helicopter crash on January 7, 1992
near the village of Podrute.
(hina) sb rml