HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: NEW MINISTERS SWORN IN

( Editorial: --> 1176 ) ZAGREB, March 20 (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament's House of Representatives gave a vote of confidence to the Minister for European Integrations Ljerka Mintas-Hodak, Minister for Justice Marijan Ramuscak and Minister for Education and Sport Bozidar Pugelnik. Ramuscak and Pugelnik were officially sworn in. Mintas-Hodak took oath for her new duties previously when she was confirmed as a deputy premier. Mintas-Hodak was born in Zagreb in 1952. She received her degree, masters and PhD from the Law Faculty of Zagreb University. In 1990 she was an adviser in the President's Office for a short time. Following that she was head of the Croatian Office to the European Union's Monitoring Mission, Deputy Minister for Maritime Affairs and Maritime Affairs Adviser to the Premier. In 1995 she was appointed as the Deputy Premier for Domestic Policy and Social Affairs. In March this year she was appointed as Minister for European Integrations. Marijan Ramuscak was born in 1938 in Radovac, near Varazdin. He graduated with a law degree from Zagreb University. After he passed the bar exam, he was a judge in Cakovec for 10 years then an attorney for 15 years. From 1990 he was Assistant to the Justice Minister, then deputy. He was also a Prefect of Medjimurje County and from 1997 a member of the House of Counties. Pugelnik was born in 1943 in Novska. He graduated from the Philosophy Faculty in Zagreb where he also received a masters degree in linguistics. Until being appointed as Minister for Education and Sport he was director of a high school in Novska. The House of Representatives on Friday ratified the agreement between the Croatian and Hungarian governments on cooperation in protection from natural and civil catastrophes, the agreement with Sweden on rescheduling Croatia's debt and the consular convention between Croatia and Macedonia. The House of Representatives on Friday passed the bill on amendments to the Mine-Clearing Act, in the first reading. The final bill on the official use of languages and scripts of national minorities in the Republic of Croatia was sent to the third reading. The 29th session of the Lower House will continue next week. (hina) jn mrb/as 202122 MET mar 98