ZAGREB, May 27 (Hina) - By the completion of a several-hour-long debate on a draft bill on the privatisation of the Croatian Telecommunications (HT), and draft amendments to the Law on the Criminal Procedure, the House of
Representatives of the Croatian National Parliament (Sabor) ended Thursday's work. During today afternoon's debate, the model of the privatisation of the HT, the first public company which is to undergo the process of privatisation, was severely criticised. Therefore a deputy of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mato Arlovic, suggested that Thursday's discussion should be treated as a preliminary one, whereas the text should be considerably changed for the first reading. Juraj Buzolic of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) was very critical of the proposed act on the HT privatisation and demanded from the Government to forward an analysis, prior to the second reading
ZAGREB, May 27 (Hina) - By the completion of a several-hour-long
debate on a draft bill on the privatisation of the Croatian
Telecommunications (HT), and draft amendments to the Law on the
Criminal Procedure, the House of Representatives of the Croatian
National Parliament (Sabor) ended Thursday's work.
During today afternoon's debate, the model of the privatisation of
the HT, the first public company which is to undergo the process of
privatisation, was severely criticised.
Therefore a deputy of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mato
Arlovic, suggested that Thursday's discussion should be treated as
a preliminary one, whereas the text should be considerably changed
for the first reading.
Juraj Buzolic of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) was very
critical of the proposed act on the HT privatisation and demanded
from the Government to forward an analysis, prior to the second
reading, on what this bill may bring to the Croatian economy in the
future.
Although nobody brought into question the necessity to privatise
this public company, most critical remarks referred to the planned
reservation of 25 percent plus one share for the strategic
investor.
MPs urged better protection of the national and state strategic
interests.
They also demanded that the law on this matter should provide for a
greater percent of shares (than the proposed five percent) to be
sold to current and former employees in the Croatian
Telecommunications and the Croatian Post and to Homeland War
veterans.
The lower house's members today also considered a proposal given by
Vladimir Seks (an HDZ deputy) for amendments to the Criminal
Procedure Law.
Under proposed changes, persons who took part in the armed
rebellion against Croatia and who were amnestied, are not entitled
to ask compensation for the time spent in custody.
By the amnesty law, 14,000 people, charged with their involvement
into the armed rebellion have been amnestied, Seks said. The
amnesty is an act of mercy and it does not establish whether
somebody is guilty or not guilty, and that's why these persons
cannot ask compensation, Seks added.
(hina) jn ms