GOVT SUGGESTS THAT BAN ON MANAGEMENT OF VECERNJI LIST SHARES BE LIFTED

ZAGREB, Aug 31 (Hina) - The Croatian Government on Thursday recommended that the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute seek the cancellation of a temporary ban on the management of the shares of 'Vecernji List' daily by Caritas Investments Fund Ltd. Lifting the ban would enable the Austrian media concern Styria to realise the already agreed purchase of Croatia's highest- circulation daily. The decision imposing a temporary ban on the management of 'Vecernji List' shares was made by the Zagreb Commercial Court in May this year at the request of the Pension Insurance Institute, which once had owned the majority package of 'Vecernji List' shares. Namely, the Institute had initiated proceedings before the Permanent Arbitration Court of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce asking that it be assessed whether the sale of the daily's shares in early 1998 was valid. A Croatian National Sabor commission, which investigated the whole case, established that there had been irregularities in the process of sale, but that its validity was not questionable. At the closed part of Thursday's session, which was chaired by Prime Minister Ivica Racan, the Government also discussed a draft on the operationalisation of the government work by year's end. It was agreed that an operationalisation plan should be adopted at the next session, after additional consultations, the Government's public relations office reported. Regarding the parliament's request that the Government compile a list of 200 wealthiest Croatian families in line with international standards, the Government established that such a list could not be compiled. The Government established that the request could be met because it was unclear and incomplete and that there were no determined international standards for compiling such a list. The Government therefore suggested to the House of Representatives that it amend and specify its request so that it could be met, the statement read. (hina) in rml