HDZ HOLDS NEWS CONFERENCE ON 1998 STATE BUDGET REVISION

( Editorial: --> 0542 ) ZAGREB, June 11 (Hina) - The governing Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) on Thursday held a news conference on its political standpoints concerning the budgetary revision in 1998 and the Final Bill on Rights and Obligations of State Officials. The budgetary revision envisages a six billion kuna increase in budgetary revenues. Of this amount, two billion kuna will be set aside for decreasing external debts and four billion kuna for the building of roads and communal infrastructure, improving student standards, subsidies in agriculture, reconstruction and for displaced people and refugees, member of the HDZ National Committee and Finance Minister Borislav Skegro told reporters. Speaking about the HDZ's political standpoints concerning this year's budgetary revision, Skegro pointed out the continuation of political and economic stability, maintaining economic development and stability, and harmonising the status of all Croatian generations. Skegro estimated that the execution of the state budget and positive effects of the Value Added Tax had resulted in positive re- distribution in Croatian society. It has been proposed that the initial budgetary funds for the payment of pensions be increased by 900 million kuna, Skegro said. He stressed that this increase had nothing to do with the Constitutional Court decision but represented the continuation of the policy of pension increase over a period of several years. The Final Bill on Rights and Obligations of State Officials is aimed at resolving the conflict between the public interest related to the performance of state duties and private interest, HDZ Vice- President Vladimir Seks said. HDZ proposes that a circle of some 300 officials, to be included in the law, be established precisely. The law would include the President of the Republic, Croatian National Parliament members, Constitutional Court judges, Government members, the Croatian National Bank Governor, the state auditor, the public attorney, the Croatian Radio Television director, the HINA news agency director, county prefects and the Zagreb mayor. According to the law, state officials, their spouses and family members would have to declare their property to the body which elected or appointed them upon taking up their office and its completion. (hina) rml /mbr 112115 MET jun 98