LOWER HOUSE ADOPTS LAW ON MINISTRIES

ZAGREB, May 7 (Hina) - Adopting a Law on the Organisation and Jurisdiction of Ministries and Organisations of State Administration, the Croatian Sabor's House of Representatives decided that the Government will have 17, instead of the current 20 ministries. The Lower House also adopted changes to the Law on the State Judicial Council (DSV). According to the Law on the Organisation and Jurisdiction of Ministries and Organisations of State Administration, the Ministry of Return and Immigration will stop operating and its activities will be taken over by the Ministry of Development, Immigration and Reconstruction. The new law also envisages the dissolution of the Privatisation Ministry as an independent unit, and its activities will be transferred to the Economy Ministry. Under the new law, the existing Administration Ministry will continue operating as the State Directorate for State Administration and Local Self-Government. The Government adopted criticism voiced in parliamentary debate and decided that the State Board for Environmental Protection should remain an independent unit. According to the law, which goes into force on June 1, some of the ministries will have state secretaries, who will be suggested by the Government and appointed by the President of the Republic. The office of state secretary has been introduced by the Law on Changes to the Law on the System of State Administration, based on models in some European countries. According to the changes to the Law on the State Judicial Council, the House of Counties will propose candidates for the offices of Supreme Court President and State Attorney, and they will be taking oaths before the President of the Republic. The Lower House today also endorsed a Programme of Physical Planning in Croatia. According to the Programme, until the year 2015 Croatia will neither construct nor investigate the possibility of constructing coal-fired thermo-power plants or nuclear power plants. After the Government adopted an amendment by an MP, Moslavacka Gora was excluded from the programme as a potential radioactive waste disposal site. The MPs refused with a majority vote a motion by the Istrian Democratic Assembly (32 MPs voted for) on a commission of inquiry to probe into the transformation and privatisation of the Rovinj- based company Mirna. The Government opposed the proposal as well, with the explanation that it had already adopted measures for the company's financial rehabilitation in late March. (hina) jn rml