CIVILIAN HOMELAND WAR VICTIMS DISCUSS AMENDMENTS TO LAW

ZAGREB, Nov 17 (Hina) - Representatives of the Union of Associations of Croatian Civilian Victims of the Homeland Defence War held talks Friday with Assistant Labour and Social Care Minister, Marijan Perkovic, about amendments to the Law on the Protection of Military and Civilian War Invalids. The Ministry is preparing about a dozen amendments to the law, which should improve the legal rights of military invalids. The main issue is the right of a family invalid compensation which would be paid to spouses and family members of soldiers or civilians who had been killed or rendered invalids, who have pensions. The right would not be exercised by those who are employed, Perkovic said. The Union's suggestion that besides only the children of civilian war victims having priority in employment, their parents should also have this right, was agreed on. The Ministry will also consider a request that besides 100% invalids having the right to owning a vehicle as an aide, this right should be available for 90 and 80 per cent invalids. The Ministry is currently caring for 3,640 people protected by the Law on the Protection of Military and Civilian War Invalids. Their representatives and civilian invalids themselves deem it much better that one ministry provides care for all victims of Croatia's war for independence, as well as one law which would unite the care for all of them. (hina) lml