GOVERNMENT APPROVES FAVOURABLE HOUSING LOANS FOR WAR INVALIDS

( Editorial: --> 9718 ) ZAGREB, July 24 (Hina) - The Croatian Government on Friday confirmed a proposed zoning programme for Croatia. Zoning, Construction and Housing Minister Marko Sirac said that the government would give priority for the building of a power plant on the Adriatic coast to Obrovac, in the hinterland of the central Adriatic city of Zadar, regardless of whether the plant would be run on gas or coal. The proposed programme will be shown to counties and municipalities, after which the Zoning Advisory Council would formulate a final zoning proposal to be sent to parliament. Meanwhile, in accordance with an agreement between the government and public service unions, the government passed a decision on increasing the pay of employees on the state budget by 8 per cent. The government also approved giving housing loans to Croatian war invalids from the Homeland War, with disability rates of less than 100 per cent, and to members of their families. The 15-year loans, with a one year grace period, will have annual fixed interest rates of 2 per cent. Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic recalled that complete invalids had received housing grants, while lower category invalids received loans according to their rate of disability. The government approved foreign loans to be taken out by Croatian Railways (12.8 million German marks for the radio dispatching system on the Lika line, 40 million Swiss francs in credit for Eurofim and 60 million marks for reserve parts and equipment) and more funds for the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development to give loans to particular firms. It also accepted a decision on making an agreement with the Belgian Government which would give a US$830,000 loan for installing a gas supply system in Vukovar-Srijem County. (Hina) mbr jn /ha 241957 MET jul 98