GOVT PROPOSES ABOLISHING LAWS ON USE OF ABANDONED PROPERTY

( Editorial: --> 8944 ) ZAGREB, April 23 (Hina) - The Croatian Government on Thursday accepted bills which would abolish laws on the temporary takeover and administration of abandoned property and the leasing of flats in liberated territory. The two laws had their functions at the time they were passed but following the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube River region they are no longer necessary, Deputy Prime Minister Ljerka Mintas-Hodak told a government session. The issues of ownership are treated according to current Croatian regulations, she said. Another Deputy Prime Minister, Jure Radic, told the session that people currently living in private homes, whose owners are somewhere else, should not be concerned, because the Croatian state would provide them with other accommodation. The government also accepted the proposed first programme measures for carrying out the national employment policy. The measures foresee a special employment programme for Croatian defenders. Labour and Social Welfare Minister Joso Skara announced a reduction in contributions for health and pension insurance and abolition of contributions for the child allowance and for the water industry. Funds for the child allowance, amounting to about US$156 million, will be guaranteed through the state budget. Thursday's government session reduced the customs rate from 25 to 5 per cent on the import of live sea fish and abolished the ban on sugar imports. It also passed a regulation on changes to the customs law under which only goods of Croatian origin can be exported. The Government backed a proposal on establishing an institution for working out strategies for Croatia's continual development. And a report by the Croatian Investment Promotion Agency was accepted by the Government. Director Vanja Kalodjera said the Agency started with producing catalogues for investment offerings. Currently 40 projects are involved. Two foreign investors are prepared to invest about DM250 million in tourism activities. (Hina) jn mb /ha 231649 MET apr 98