ZAGREB, May 19 (Hina) - During Friday's debate at the House of Representatives on a government bill on changes to the Law on Areas of Special State Concern, representatives of the ruling six-party coalition supported the bill, whereas
opposition deputies claimed it would radicalise the political situation in the country. This bill, along with the bill on reconstruction, opens the question of our position toward the victims and aggressors in the Homeland War, believes Drago Krpina of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). The bill "attacks the dignity of Croatian victims and grants a pardon to the aggressor," Krpina said, calling on the Government to withdraw the bill. Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) officers, who once enjoyed privileges, have now been given back their tenants' rights, that is, privileges, which could cause dissatisfaction and frustration among the Croat people, believes HDZ's Ante Beljo.
ZAGREB, May 19 (Hina) - During Friday's debate at the House of
Representatives on a government bill on changes to the Law on Areas
of Special State Concern, representatives of the ruling six-party
coalition supported the bill, whereas opposition deputies claimed
it would radicalise the political situation in the country.
This bill, along with the bill on reconstruction, opens the
question of our position toward the victims and aggressors in the
Homeland War, believes Drago Krpina of the Croatian Democratic
Union (HDZ). The bill "attacks the dignity of Croatian victims and
grants a pardon to the aggressor," Krpina said, calling on the
Government to withdraw the bill.
Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) officers, who once enjoyed
privileges, have now been given back their tenants' rights, that
is, privileges, which could cause dissatisfaction and frustration
among the Croat people, believes HDZ's Ante Beljo. "All this could
lead to the dangerous radicalisation in the country," he said.
Stjepan Henezi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) replied that
the situation was not being radicalised by those laws but by radical
debates and the Opposition's political stands in parliament.
Unlike the Opposition, deputies of the ruling coalition positively
assessed the bill. Zeljko Pavlic of the Croatian Social Liberal
Party (HSLS) believes the bill confirms the right to property for
all Croatian citizens. It also deals with the problem of exiled
persons, who will be granted building sites or alternative
accommodation, he added.
However, he warned that the six-month deadline for the restitution
of houses and flats to their pre-war owners was too short. What
could happen is that exiled persons currently occupying those house
and flats are forced to move out overnight, Pavlic said.
Vesna Skare Ozbolt of the Democratic Centre (DC) also believes the
deadline should be extended. She believes the fact that the
Croatian Danube region was included into the first category of
areas of special state concern was good, however, the whole region
of Slavonia should be included in the first category.
The bill is good but its implementation will be expensive, she said.
It should, nevertheless, be supported because rejecting it would
only prolong the agony and insecurity of the settlers in those areas
and the owners of property, she added.
The agenda of today's session was amended with some 20 new
proposals, which the government adopted yesterday. Those include a
set of laws on excise taxes, contributions assessed on wages and
salaries, profit and income taxes, a bill on the revision of
ownership transformation and privatisation, etc.
Because of this, the fourth session of the lower house was extended
until June 3.
(hina) jn rml