( Editorial: --> 1116 )
ZAGREB, Sept 17 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday
forwarded a bill on islands into parliamentary procedure.
The bill's aim is the revitalisation of Croatia's islands,
including economy revival and improved transport connections with
the mainland, in order to stop people from moving away and to enable
return.
The government also adopted a report on summer bush-fires,
assessing that the Interior Ministry, the army and professional
fire-fighting units had done a good job in fighting the fires,
whereas units of local self-government and government had
backfired in preventive measures.
With the bill on islands, the government complied with its
obligation from a national island development programme formulated
by parliament last year.
Explaining the bill, Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure
Radic presented a disastrous demographic picture, which shows that
since 1910 the number of island inhabitants has dropped by a third,
from 173,000 to 112,000.
The bill on islands envisages the establishment of a special fund
with the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development. This
fund would subsidise island economy.
The use of abandoned land and buildings would be regulated by having
the state lease the land in agreement with the owners, while
abandoned buildings would be reconstructed and used for communal
needs, such as homes for retired people for instance.
The report on bush-fires was submitted by Interior Minister Ivan
Penic.
Between July 1 and August 31 a total of 1,118 bush-fires caused
damage in the amount of US$96 million. A total of 146 criminal and
449 offence charges were pressed, mainly against Croatian
citizens, but also against three Germans.
It has been determined that no bush-fire was the result of a
terrorist act, Penic said, adding the fires had been caused either
by carelessness or lightning.
Defence Minister Andrija Hebrang said 3,000 soldiers had taken part
in putting out the fires.
At one time when the fire-line was very long we sought assistance
from the Croat-Muslim Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, which sent
260 soldiers, Hebrang said.
We called them, they obtained permits and alongside French and
Austrian units assisted in putting out the fires, he explained, and
expressed his gratitude for their work.
Premier Zlatko Matesa also thanked the military units from the
Bosnian Federation, Austria, Italy, Germany, Russia and France on
their assistance in fire-fighting.
At today's session the government also adopted a report on the
positive results achieved in the implementation of a trial
programme for the stimulation of small businesses in the April 1997
- May 1998 period.
Last year the Ministry of Economy earmarked US$5.2 million in the
venture and US$17.5 million this year. With loans the amount could
reach US$82 million.
(hina) ha jn
171904 MET sep 98
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