ZAGREB, March 25 (Hina) - By its amendment the Croatian Government totally gave up from parts of a bill on islands which refer to enabling the State to take abandoned arable land and buildings on islands at its disposal. The
Government proposed the amendment to avoid making a climate as if the State wants something new to nationalise or to encroach upon the private property, said Croatian Minister for Development and Reconstruction, Jure Radic, at Thursday's session of the Croatian Parliament's House of Representatives. The final bill on islands, that is in the second reading at the Sabor, intends to create preconditions for halting the demographic and economic decline on islands. The population of the Croatian islands has been almost halved in this century, while the economy, particularly in remote islands has been slumping into a state of torpor, Radic added. One of many stimulating measures is the better traffic connec
ZAGREB, March 25 (Hina) - By its amendment the Croatian Government
totally gave up from parts of a bill on islands which refer to
enabling the State to take abandoned arable land and buildings on
islands at its disposal.
The Government proposed the amendment to avoid making a climate as
if the State wants something new to nationalise or to encroach upon
the private property, said Croatian Minister for Development and
Reconstruction, Jure Radic, at Thursday's session of the Croatian
Parliament's House of Representatives.
The final bill on islands, that is in the second reading at the
Sabor, intends to create preconditions for halting the demographic
and economic decline on islands.
The population of the Croatian islands has been almost halved in
this century, while the economy, particularly in remote islands has
been slumping into a state of torpor, Radic added.
One of many stimulating measures is the better traffic connection
between islands and the mainland in the coming four years.
The Government envisaged measures for giving incentives to the
economy, through, for instance, favourable credits, and easy
payment terms for water supplies in island households.
Benches of opposition parties expressed a series of remarks and
objections to the draft bill.
The bill will not change anything important, and this is not its
ambition either, claimed Damir Kajin of the Istrian Democratic
Alliance (IDS) who put it in connection with the run-up to
parliamentary elections.
Kajin asked why the bill did not mention Brijuni islands. He
demanded that these northern Adriatic islands with official
residences should be included in the bill and "returned to
people."
The Croatian Social and Liberal Party (HSLS) also thinks that
Brijuni or a part of them should not be the residence ensured only
for one man even if it is the President of Republic, said Josko
Kontic of the HSLS.
Ante Tukic of the Liberal Party (LS) said the decentralisation of
the system should be of more assistance to islands.
Marin Jurjevic of the Social and Democratic Party (SDP) noticed
that in the bill there was no mention of means necessary for its
enforcement.
The opposition benches welcomed the Government's decision to drop
provisions from the law referring to leaving the abandoned land and
facilities on the islands at the disposal of the State.
(hina) ms