ZAGREB, April 14 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa on Wednesday presented to a news conference a bill on the organisation and jurisdiction of ministries and state directorates, and changes to the Law on State
Administration, sent into parliamentary procedure by the Government. According to the changes, the Government would have four instead of the current five vice presidents. The Ministry of Privatisation and the Ministry of Economy would merge as would the Ministry of Immigration and the Ministry of Reconstruction and Development. The Ministry of Administration would become a state administrative organisation. This means that the number of ministries would be reduced from 20 to 17, the number of state administrative organisations from ten to nine, and the number of government offices from 14 to 11, Matesa said. The Prime Minister also addressed the matter of Government reshuffl
ZAGREB, April 14 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa on
Wednesday presented to a news conference a bill on the organisation
and jurisdiction of ministries and state directorates, and changes
to the Law on State Administration, sent into parliamentary
procedure by the Government.
According to the changes, the Government would have four instead of
the current five vice presidents. The Ministry of Privatisation and
the Ministry of Economy would merge as would the Ministry of
Immigration and the Ministry of Reconstruction and Development.
The Ministry of Administration would become a state administrative
organisation.
This means that the number of ministries would be reduced from 20 to
17, the number of state administrative organisations from ten to
nine, and the number of government offices from 14 to 11, Matesa
said.
The Prime Minister also addressed the matter of Government
reshuffle.
The incumbent Deputy Prime Ministers Ljerka Mintas-Hodak, Borislav
Skegro, Jure Radic and Mate Granic would remain at their posts,
Matesa said. He said he had suggested to the President of the
Republic that Ivan Herak be appointed new Tourism Minister and
Zvonimir Separovic new Justice Minister.
The former Justice Minister Milan Ramljak, who was also a Deputy
Prime Minister, resigned recently.
Immigration Minister Marijan Petrovic, who in December 1998
requested retirement, will also leave the Government. The
incumbent Tourism Minister Sergej Morsan will be appointed
Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Economy Minister Nenad Porges remains at the head of a united
Ministry of Economy and Privatisation, while the incumbent
Privatisation Minister Milan Kovac will keep the status of a
minister and will be in charge of the implementation of the Dayton
and Washington agreements and cooperation between Croatia and the
Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, with emphasis on the
implementation of the Agreement on Special Relations Between
Croatia and the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Matesa also announced the revision of the state budget, which is
expected to be carried out by this summer.
Commenting on the newly-arisen situation concerning NATO attacks
on the FRY, Matesa said Croatia was encountering problems regarding
investments and the arrival of foreign capital.
In connection with this, we have to re-define our strategic
economic goals in order to preserve the economic stability, Matesa
said, adding this meant that the budgetary revision would result in
decreased public spending and giving up of some infrastructure
projects. There will be no decrease of salaries and pensions and
they will be paid on time, he added.
The Government will suggest to the Croatian National Sabor that the
salaries of state officials be reduced by 20 per cent, he said.
Asked whether he would resign because of the public pressure,
Matesa answered he believed resignation was a normal thing to do if
one thought he was not able to perform his job well. Considering
that the situation is not such at the moment, I have no reason to
resign, he stressed.
(hina) rml