ZAGREB, Oct 24 (Hina) - During the question time the Sabor's House of Counties held on Tuesday, many questions were about the economic and social situation in Croatia. Franjo Krizanic of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) wondered
how the Government could claim that public spending was falling, when the budget revenue from the Value Added Tax and excise duties was rising. "It is true that this kind of revenue is growing," Croatian Deputy Finance Minister Damir Kustrak answered explaining that this was a consequence of the strengthened consumers' consumption. "On the other hand revenue from income taxes have fallen, as the Government has raised the base for the payment of that tax," Kustrak added. He told the national parliament's upper house that contributions from the pension and health insurance payment had been lessened, import duties were also lower so that the economy could be relieved. In 1999 the pu
ZAGREB, Oct 24 (Hina) - During the question time the Sabor's House
of Counties held on Tuesday, many questions were about the economic
and social situation in Croatia.
Franjo Krizanic of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) wondered how
the Government could claim that public spending was falling, when
the budget revenue from the Value Added Tax and excise duties was
rising.
"It is true that this kind of revenue is growing," Croatian Deputy
Finance Minister Damir Kustrak answered explaining that this was a
consequence of the strengthened consumers' consumption.
"On the other hand revenue from income taxes have fallen, as the
Government has raised the base for the payment of that tax," Kustrak
added. He told the national parliament's upper house that
contributions from the pension and health insurance payment had
been lessened, import duties were also lower so that the economy
could be relieved.
In 1999 the public spending reached the 54 percent of the Gross
Domestic Product, and this year it is going to fall after many years
of its rise, he concluded.
Reacting upon claims of some MPs that INA (the Croatian Oil Company)
has for months been exporting petroleum products in the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia despite international sanctions, while
there is the shortage of those products in Croatia and for instance
the Croatian Railways does not receive the oil from INA, Croatia's
First Deputy Prime Minister Groan Granic described such assertions
as "the cheapest political imputations."
Transport Minister Alojz Tusek explained that INA did not supply
oil to the Croatian Railways, owing to the debt of the latter of some
135 million kuna (plus some 70 million of interest rates) to the oil
company. The problem is to be settled in the coming days, he added.
(hina) ms