LOWER HOUSE STARTS DISCUSSION ON SOCIAL POLICY

( Editorial: --> 2883 ) ZAGREB, Feb 18 (Hina) - The Croatian government will in the future support a selective approach in solving social questions, meaning that those who are most needy will receive most, Premier Zlatko Matesa said at Wednesday's session of the Parliament's House of Representatives. Speaking about the Government's Report on Implementing Social Policy in 1997, Matesa said that the most important tasks of the Government concerning social welfare were care for Homeland war invalids, family members of killed defenders and displaced people - all of those who carried most of the burden during the Serb aggression. One should especially care for pensioners, the unemployed, students, as well as the country's demographic revival, the Premier said, asking that priorities be set in parliamentary discussion, in line with the state budget potential. The peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube River region is completed but not so the reconstruction and care for 140,000 displaced people, Matesa said. Considerable amounts of money will have to be set aside for reconstruction and care for displaced people for another two years at least, he added. Croatia has so far invested more than DM2.8 billion in reconstruction, and considerable money and work were invested by citizens themselves, Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic said. Direct war damage has been estimated at more than DM50 billion, while indirect war damage amounts to twice that figure, he added. Out of more than 143,000 destroyed apartments and houses, more than 86,000 have been reconstructed so far, Radic said. In 1997, 99,000 social welfare cards were issued, which includes some 220,000 persons or 4.6 per cent of the population, Labour and Social Care Minister Joso Skara said. About DM550 million was earmarked for the most destitute groups of the population in 1997, and just above DM270 million was set aside for accelerated retirement allowances. According to the Minister of Croatian Homeland War Defenders, Juraj Njavro, in 1997 more than DM1.4 billion was spent on care for defenders and their families. The Croatian government also cared for the housing problems of Homeland war defenders, said Njavro. In 1997, the Economy Ministry participated in the financial reorganisation of more than 90 firms, which cost DM133 million, Economy Minister Nenad Porges said, adding that some 50,000 jobs were saved in that way. Social welfare measures secured care for about 12,200 employees who were laid off. (hina) jn rm 181916 MET feb 98