CROATIAN GOVT ADOPTS DECISION ON COMPENSATING FOR ELECTION COSTS

ZAGREB, Dec 2 (Hina) - At a session held on Thursday behind closed doors, the Croatian Government adopted a decision on setting the amount of funds intended for compensating for the costs of election campaigning in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The decision refers to those parties which were not in parliament on December 31, 1998 and which in the upcoming elections win more than five per cent of votes, said a statement issued by the Government's Media and Public Relations Office today. The session, which was chaired by Finance Minister Borislav Skegro, adopted a conclusion regarding the submission of voters' lists to political parties. Referring to the Law on Voters' Lists, the Government decided that voters' lists would not be submitted to political parties and that county offices for general administration will be obliged to provide access to those lists for all political parties. Today's session also adopted a series of conclusions and measures for assisting companies facing financial problems. The Government also adopted regulations on announcing agreements on property-rights relations with Slovenia, on cultural cooperation with Latvia, cooperation in customs issues with Hungary, maritime transport with Morocco, and on using Croatian ports by Slovakia. The Government appointed Marija Peronja Assistant Education and Sports Minister. Croatia's observer at the International Criminal Tribunal, Dr Ivo Josipovic, was relieved of his duties and Orsat Miljenic was appointed his successor, read the statement. (hina) rml