UPPER HOUSE OKAYS CUTS IN CUSTOMS RATES FOR PRIMARY MATERIALS

ZAGREB, June 13 (Hina) - The Croatian House of Counties on Tuesday endorsed the Government's draft law which provides for a decrease in customs rates for reproduction material and equipment necessary for mine clearance. MPs did not utter serious objections. One new thing in comparison to the previous draft act is the introduction of paying 10 kuna (approximately 2.5 German marks) for the submission of each customs entry. Money collected in this way will be used for the development of the customs services, said a Deputy Economy Minister, Neven Mimica. The Government has suggested that foreigners who invest in Croatian companies and small businesses will be exempt from the duty to pay customs tariffs, Mimica added. The Constitutional Court has commenced considering an appeal for the establishment whether the Sabor House of Representatives' procedure in adoption of the Constitutional Law on human rights and ethnic minorities' rights was in compliance with the Constitution, said Zelimir Puljic of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). Upper house members, regardless of their party membership, maintain that the House of Representatives breached the procedure while adopting the aforementioned law. (hina) jn ms