ZAGREB, May 1 (Hina) - Croatia's Government incorporated most remarks referring to stronger protection of the Croatian national interests into a final draft bill on the privatisation of the Croatian Telecommunications (HT), said
Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa after Tuesday's session of the Government behind the closed doors which defined the final draft bill on the HT privatisation. The final bill explicitly mentions forms of protection of the Croatian national interest such as that only the Croatian national parliament (Sabor) can decide on the change of the company's headquarters, the name of the company or decide on the merger of it or possible discontinuation of its work, Croatian Finance Minister Borislav Skegro said. According to demands of members of the Sabor, it is proposed that money earned by the HT privatisation should be exclusively invested in the infrastructure and economy, Skeg
ZAGREB, May 1 (Hina) - Croatia's Government incorporated most
remarks referring to stronger protection of the Croatian national
interests into a final draft bill on the privatisation of the
Croatian Telecommunications (HT), said Croatian Premier Zlatko
Matesa after Tuesday's session of the Government behind the closed
doors which defined the final draft bill on the HT privatisation.
The final bill explicitly mentions forms of protection of the
Croatian national interest such as that only the Croatian national
parliament (Sabor) can decide on the change of the company's
headquarters, the name of the company or decide on the merger of it
or possible discontinuation of its work, Croatian Finance Minister
Borislav Skegro said.
According to demands of members of the Sabor, it is proposed that
money earned by the HT privatisation should be exclusively invested
in the infrastructure and economy, Skegro added.
It is also suggested that the name be changed into "Hrvatski
Telekom".
The previously proposed percentage regarding the ownership share
is not changed. It is to be seen how the Sabor will treat this bill,
the Finance Minister added.
He recalled that during the recent parliamentary discussion some
MPs proposed an increase in shares to be given to employees and
Croatian Homeland War veterans as well as to other Croatian
citizens.
As the money obtained by the privatisation of th HT is to be invested
in the infrastructure and economy this really means it goes to all
Croatian citizens, Skegro explained.
Premier Matesa recalled that the proceeds from the privatisation of
the HT had been planned during the adoption of this year's state
budget. He added this would not be utilised for patching holes in
the budget. The means would be used for capital projects which the
Sabor accepted in the 1999 budget and which it will approve in the
revised budget, Matesa explained.
The Government also today adopted a final bill on amendments and
supplements to the act on the special duties on oil products.
Matesa said, in response to a reporter's question, that the
Government had for weeks been considering a price for oil products
and that it should hold another round of talks with the Croatian Oil
Industry, INA.
Matesa added that Croatia had now the lowest prices for oil products
in comparison to neighbouring countries, explaining that an
increase in prices of oil products in the country was in some way the
result of a rise in the oil price on the world market and in the
currency rate of the U.S.dollar.
(hina) ms