ZAGREB, March 15 (Hina) - The Croatian National Sabor's House of Counties continued its debate on a draft budget for 2000 on Wednesday. Judging by the assessments presented today, the debate does not differ very much from yesterday's
discussion. Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) representatives insist that the budget is neither development nor socially-oriented, but rather that it is conservative and conceptually poor. This assessment was rejected by representatives from the parties making up the ruling coalition (SDP, HSLS, HSS, LS, IDS and HNS). Zlatko Komadina of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said that HDZ's negative assessment of the budget was politically motivated and was not based on economic criteria. This year's budget had to be based on the previous economic policy, and that policy was not the best possible one, Komadina said. A number of HDZ MPs expressed dissatisfaction with the reduction of funds for the
ZAGREB, March 15 (Hina) - The Croatian National Sabor's House of
Counties continued its debate on a draft budget for 2000 on
Wednesday.
Judging by the assessments presented today, the debate does not
differ very much from yesterday's discussion. Croatian Democratic
Union (HDZ) representatives insist that the budget is neither
development nor socially-oriented, but rather that it is
conservative and conceptually poor.
This assessment was rejected by representatives from the parties
making up the ruling coalition (SDP, HSLS, HSS, LS, IDS and HNS).
Zlatko Komadina of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said that
HDZ's negative assessment of the budget was politically motivated
and was not based on economic criteria. This year's budget had to be
based on the previous economic policy, and that policy was not the
best possible one, Komadina said.
A number of HDZ MPs expressed dissatisfaction with the reduction of
funds for the army and police, given Croatia's neighbourhood, and
with the reduction of reconstruction funds. The funds the state
intends to direct into reconstruction will not be sufficient for
the completion of what was started last year, claims Mato Simic,
president of the national Association of Returnees.
Several MPs, including Croatian Party of Rights' (HSP) Velimir
Kvesic, said Homeland War victims should be provided with better
care.
Independently of the party they belong to, the MPs expressed
dissatisfaction with funds set aside for their respective
counties. They wanted those funds to be redistributed so that means
could be secured for the construction of roads, ports, hospitals,
schools, and school yards in their counties.
The HDZ parliamentary bench, which has a majority in the upper
house, yesterday announced that it would not support the proposed
budget.
(hina) mm rml