CRO WILL PAY FOR HOME RECONSTRUCTION OF THOSE WHO DESTROYED IT - KRPINA

ZAGREB, May 16 (Hina) - The biggest Croatian opposition party, Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) deems that Prime Minister Ivica Racan's Government after the first 100 days of rule had no reason to be triumphal, MP Drago Krpina said at a news conference of the HDZ party bench on Tuesday. The Government cared more for satisfying certain circles of the international community than for fulfilling economic and social promises, Krpina said. The fulfilment of pledges to the international community includes amendments to the Law on Reconstruction, Krpina said, warning the Croatian public: "tax payers must know that they will have to set aside about six billion kuna (US$714 million) for the reconstruction of the homes of those who had destroyed Croatia". The draft amendments to the Law on Reconstruction, which is in parliamentary procedure, would equalise the rights of Croat and Serb returnees to the reconstruction of homes. Applauding Croatia's accession into the Partnership for Peace programme and imminent entrance into the World Trade Organisation, Krpina warned that the first year of membership in the WTO would lead to the closing down of at least 50,000 jobs. (hina) lml jn