ZAGREB, June 11 (Hina) - After almost an hour of discussions about some 40 amendments, the Croatian Parliament House of Representatives supported with 72 two votes for and 24 against, the law on the privatisation of Croatian
Telecommunications (HT). In the privatisation, at least 25 per cent plus one share will be sold to a strategic investor, seven per cent will be sold to employees and former employees of HT an Croatian Post (HP) at favourable prices, seven per cent will be given out to Croatian Homeland War soldiers, 30 per cent will be kept by the state and at least 20 per cent of shares will be offered in a public bid. Although the Government suggested the company's name be changed into Croatian Telecom, it did accept an amendment by the Committee for Legislature, maintaining the name of Croatian Telecommunications. The amendment also stipulates that 70 per cent of the company will be privatised, while the state
ZAGREB, June 11 (Hina) - After almost an hour of discussions about
some 40 amendments, the Croatian Parliament House of
Representatives supported with 72 two votes for and 24 against, the
law on the privatisation of Croatian Telecommunications (HT).
In the privatisation, at least 25 per cent plus one share will be
sold to a strategic investor, seven per cent will be sold to
employees and former employees of HT an Croatian Post (HP) at
favourable prices, seven per cent will be given out to Croatian
Homeland War soldiers, 30 per cent will be kept by the state and at
least 20 per cent of shares will be offered in a public bid.
Although the Government suggested the company's name be changed
into Croatian Telecom, it did accept an amendment by the Committee
for Legislature, maintaining the name of Croatian
Telecommunications.
The amendment also stipulates that 70 per cent of the company will
be privatised, while the state will keep 30 per cent of shares, the
sale of which will be decided by the Parliament.
The increase in the number of shares to be sold or given out to HT
employees and Homeland War soldiers from five to seven per cent is
the result of the Government's adoption of an amendment motioned by
Vladimir Seks, president of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union
(HDZ) parliament party bench.
Finance Minister Borislav Skegro refused, and MPs confirmed by
voting, all amendments requesting that 51 per cent of shares be left
to the state.
Besides Opposition MPs, HDZ's Juraj Buzolic also voted against this
amendment.
He was very persistent in defending his suggestions on cancelling
law provisions on a foreign strategic investor.
He reiterated that citizens, who paid for telephone hook-ups and
thus helped the development of telecommunications, and employees,
have to be strategic investors in the HT.
Skegro informed MPs he had held a meeting on Friday with
representatives of the Croatian Union of Post and
telecommunications, and a part of associations of Homeland war
soldiers, who, he said, accepted the Government suggestion.
Skegro announced a working meeting would take place on June 28 to
discuss the legal documents.
The Lower House also adopted a report on the realisation of the
state budget.
(hina) lml jn