CROATIAN GOVT ADOPTS SEVERAL DECISIONS AT SATURDAY SESSION

ZAGREB, Feb 5 (Hina) - The Croatian Government adopted changes to its Rule Book at a session held behind closed doors on Saturday. According to these changes, which are in line with changes to the Law on the Government, in case of the Prime Minister's absence, government sessions will be chaired and acts will be signed by the Prime Minister's First Deputy, the Government Media and Public Relations Office said in a statement. The Government also established the composition and scope of activities of its coordinations. The Coordination for Social Affairs and Human Rights will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Zeljka Antunovic, whereas the Coordination for Economy will be headed by Deputy Prime Minister Slavko Linic. The Coordination for Interior and Foreign Affairs will be chaired by the Prime Minister's First Deputy Goran Granic; the Commission for Personnel will be headed by Prime Minister Ivica Racan and the Commission for Administration will be headed by Labour and Social Welfare Minister Davorko Vidovic. The Prime Minister will also chair the Commission for Property Management. Also adopted at today's session were decisions on replacements and appointments. It was decided that Jagoda Premuzic would remain at the post of Government Secretary. Three former assistants to the Minister for Special Relations with the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Bosnia-Herzegovina were relieved of their duties. The decisions on replacements also refer to the former State Directorate for Environmental Protection, which was headed by Ante Kutle, and the State Directorate for State Administration and Local Self-Government, which was headed by Antun Palaric. According to the changes to the Law on the Government, the two directorates have become part of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Zoning and the Ministry of Justice, Administration and Local Self-Government. The Office for European Integration has been cancelled by a decree because a Ministry of European Integration has been established instead. Several advisors to the Prime Minister during the mandate of Zlatko Matesa were relieved of their duties, including the advisor on power industry, Goran Granic, who was appointed First Deputy Prime Minister. The Government continues its work on its programme for the next four years. The document should be presented to the Croatian National Sabor on February 9, when the lower house is to take a vote of confidence in the Government. (hina) rml