CROATIAN GOVERNMENT DISCUSSES REALISATION OF SOCIAL POLITICS IN 1997

( Editorial: --> 4413 ) ZAGREB, Jan 14 (Hina) - The Croatian government spent about US$ 2.3 billion last year on the improvement of the status of the most destitute social groups. Almost one third of the budget was spent in the social sphere, Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa said at a government session on Wednesday, speaking about the Report of the Realisation of Social Politics in 1997. According to Matesa, the government's social politics in 1997 had been oriented towards the care of Croatian Homeland War soldiers and members of their families, displaced persons, returnees, pensioners, and especially towards protecting the family, motherhood and youth. Matesa described as a priority issue in 1998 the transfer from the social care system which treats everyone equally, to a system which recognises individual needs of persons and in which those who are most depraved would get the most help. The government forwarded to Croatian President a suggestion that Milivoj Brozin be confirmed as county prefect, after he had been elected in elections in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. According to Croatian laws, county prefects are elected by county assemblies, and are confirmed by the President, at the suggestion of the government. (hina) lm jn 141559 MET jan 98