PARLIAMENT SPEAKER EXPRESSES SATISFACTION WITH BUDGET ADOPTION

ZAGREB, Dec 13 (Hina) - I am truly satisfied that the government budget was adopted in a very responsible manner after such an extensive discussion, Croatian Parliament speaker Zlatko Tomcic said Wednesday night. The House of Representatives on Wednesday evening adopted a state budget for 2001 in the amount of 49.67 billion kuna ($5.6 billion). Throughout last night and today, the lower house debated 488 amendments to a draft 2001 budget, turning down almost all of them. Tomcic stressed MPs had "truly shown they are considering every kuna moved by the Government ... and in a very disciplined manner adopted the Government's draft budget, which is to say, the idea that expenses can be only as much as the economy allows". Finance Minister Mato Crkvenac also expressed satisfaction with the fact the budget was adopted, describing the budged as "very important for Croatia". "Only today I held talks with representatives of the European Investment Bank with whom we signed an agreement, during which they stressed they treated Croatia, as of today, as any other candidate for entering the European Union," Crkvenac said. According to him, global financial markets were reacting very well to Croatia's policy. "This budget means a lot not only for Croatia's further drawing closer to Europe and the world, but is also a part of a policy which will accelerate economic growth and employment, as well as maintain economic stability," the minister concluded. (hina) lml