ZAGREB, July 12 (Hina) - Croatia's House of Representatives on late Wednesday night ended a discussion on amendments to the Act on Areas of Special State Concern. The changes provide for the equal treatment of all Croatian citizens in
their right to the protection of the private property and the return under the equal conditions. The voting on the document has been postponed for Thursday, owing to a great number of amendments. Explaining the amendments, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Reconstruction, Venko Curlin, said the purpose of this motion was to expedite the return process in the areas of special state concern. All Croatian citizens will be entitled to the rights stipulated by the law. Only persons convicted of war crimes will be denied those rights. Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) members opposed such a law claiming that it equalised the victim and aggressor and that this draft bill wa
ZAGREB, July 12 (Hina) - Croatia's House of Representatives on late
Wednesday night ended a discussion on amendments to the Act on Areas
of Special State Concern.
The changes provide for the equal treatment of all Croatian
citizens in their right to the protection of the private property
and the return under the equal conditions.
The voting on the document has been postponed for Thursday, owing to
a great number of amendments.
Explaining the amendments, Deputy Minister of Public Works and
Reconstruction, Venko Curlin, said the purpose of this motion was
to expedite the return process in the areas of special state
concern.
All Croatian citizens will be entitled to the rights stipulated by
the law. Only persons convicted of war crimes will be denied those
rights.
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) members opposed such a law claiming
that it equalised the victim and aggressor and that this draft bill
was the result of the international community's dictate. They also
were against erasing the provisions which stipulated who would be
given priority in the reconstruction and accommodation.
On the other hand, members of the ruling six-party coalition,
asserted that discriminatory provisions of the law that has been in
force so far, caused the isolation of Croatia from the
international community. These amendments introduce
international standards for the protection of private property,
they added.
Both opposition and ruling coalition MPs endorsed the motion that
the Croatian region in the valley of the Danube River (eastern
Croatia) be cited among areas of the special state concern.
On Wednesday evening the Sabor's lower house adopted the Property
Act and the bill on the implementation of sanctions for criminal
acts.
The House of Representatives resumes this extraordinary session on
Thursday morning.
(hina) ms