ZAGREB, Oct 24 (Hina) - The Croatian Government's report on wildfires in the first eight months in this year was not positively assessed by the Sabor's House of Counties on Tuesday. The parliamentary national security and foreign
policy committee suggested to MPs not to accept the report, and deputies of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), which has a majority in the upper house, supported the suggestion. The HDZ bench does not share the Government's conclusions on causes of this year's wildfires and it is particularly reserved towards a conclusion which reads that the blame for bad preventive measures should be pinned exclusively on local authorities (municipalities, cities or towns and counties) and on the Croatian Fire-fighters' Association (HVZ). The HDZ bench asked for an additional report on the real relations between the HVZ and the Interior Ministry's units and on measures the Government was planning to
ZAGREB, Oct 24 (Hina) - The Croatian Government's report on
wildfires in the first eight months in this year was not positively
assessed by the Sabor's House of Counties on Tuesday.
The parliamentary national security and foreign policy committee
suggested to MPs not to accept the report, and deputies of the
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), which has a majority in the upper
house, supported the suggestion.
The HDZ bench does not share the Government's conclusions on causes
of this year's wildfires and it is particularly reserved towards a
conclusion which reads that the blame for bad preventive measures
should be pinned exclusively on local authorities (municipalities,
cities or towns and counties) and on the Croatian Fire-fighters'
Association (HVZ).
The HDZ bench asked for an additional report on the real relations
between the HVZ and the Interior Ministry's units and on measures
the Government was planning to take next year against fires.
According to the Government's report, there were 9,889 fires in the
first eight months of 2000 or by one quarter more as against the
entire last year. The fires claimed 19 lives, 125 people sustained
injuries and material damage totalled almost 645 million kuna
(approximately 73 million US dollars).
The upper house gave the green light to a draft act on police which
arranges the fields of police jobs and authorities, the
organisation of the police and the labour and legal status of police
officers.
The House of Counties resumes the 47th session tomorrow with five
items on its agenda, including a discussion on the implementation
of the Dayton peace accords and on the agreement on special
relations between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
(hina) jn ms