LOWER HOUSE DEBATES PRIVATISATION OF HPT

( Editorial: --> 1085 ) ZAGREB, March 20 (Hina) - The Croatian National Parliament's House of Representatives Friday discussed the privatisation of Croatian Post and Telecommunications (HPT), focusing on the issue of how to justify the division of the public company into two separate units, post and telecommunications. In line with a conclusion the lower house reached in October, the Croatian Government drafted an analysis of HPT's current position as a whole, as well as models of division and development which are a precondition for passing a bill on the HPT. The draft is expected to be discussed by the House of Representatives next week. Deputies believe the HPT privatisation process should be opened but say it is important to consider the state's interest. It is known that foreign investors are also interested in the privatisation of telecommunications. Representatives warned it was important to thoroughly debate all issues in order to avoid a hasty privatisation and falling behind "neo-colonial capitalism". It is necessary to see how these systems were privatised in Europe, MPs pointed out. On October 30, 1997, the HPT had 22,756 employees, of which 12,362 worked in the Post Management and 10,394 in the Telecommunications Management. In HPT's total income, telecommunications accounts for 77 per cent and postal services accounts for 23 per cent, while in expenses telecommunications accounts for 75 per cent and post for 25 per cent. Representatives instructed the government to draft a more thorough analysis before the second reading of the HPT bill. This analysis should specify which way HPT's privatisation will go and outline solutions for the employees and HPT property. (hina) ha mm /mb 201411 MET mar 98