PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ON BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO PROCEED

ZAGREB, Dec 13 (Hina) - During the Wednesday morning's part of the Croatian parliament's House of Representatives session focused on the amendments to the 2001 draft budget, the Government refused all of the amendments which asked for an increase in means for investment in infrastructure and public utilities. The Government justified its refusal by the explanation that there were no sufficient means. A great part of those amendments referred to the reconstruction of the war-hit areas and MPs explained that the serious economic situation in these regions forced inhabitants to move out. Some of those 80 amendments which were considered on Wednesday morning referred to an increase in means for the construction of the water supplies system on islands and the building of roads in areas bordering with Slovenia and in the Dalmatian hinterland. Reconstruction and Public Works Minister Radimir Cacic told the lower house that many additional means were envisaged for his ministry's portfolio which should be used for this kind of investments. The means would be ensured via different projects, he added. According to him, 90 million kuna will be provided for the infrastructure on islands and this is substantially higher as against means which the former HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union) government invested in that area at the annual level. He announced that amendments to the law on the areas of the special state concern would cover another poorly-developed areas such as the Dalmatian hinterland. He explained that means to be invested in the reconstruction of the war-stricken areas would climb by 20 percent compared to means previously used in the investment in those areas. He added that beside the budgetary means, a loan which Zagreb had taken form the European Bank would be used for the rebuilding of the war-ravaged houses and buildings. The discussion and voting on amendments will continue on Wednesday afternoon. (hina) ms