TWO BILLS ON ISLANDS PRESENTED AT LOWER HOUSE

( Editorial: --> 4599 ) ZAGREB, Oct 1 (Hina) - The bill on Croatian islands is one of the laws which permeates all spheres of life on islands and it is important to adopt iT as soon as possible, said Assistant Reconstruction and Development Minister Stjepan Sterc. Sterc stated this at Thursday's combined discussion about two bills on islands, which continued the 33rd session of the Parliament Lower House. The two bills were proposed by the Government and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) parliamentary bench. Both sides agree that the law on islands should be adopted as soon as possible so that budgetary funds for its implementation could be set aside for next year. The Government bill is based on the National Programme of Development of Islands. It contains measures for the sustainable development of islands, traffic infrastructure, use of arable land and incentives for the development of island economy. The Government, Sterc said, does not support SDP's bill. The establishment of traffic links between islands is of great importance for SDP, which also proposes that each island have daily services to the mainland at least three times a day. The party also proposes that students, pupils, soldiers and pensioners have the right to free transport to the mainland and back. One should also secure conditions for young people to remain on the islands, the party believes. The presentation of the two bills was followed by a short discussion on differences between the two bills, and the Government's stand towards the SDP's proposal. Marin Jurjevic and Mato Arlovic of the SDP objected to the reasons the Government presented rejecting their proposal. The SDP's proposal was also drawn up on the basis of the National Programme on the development of Islands. Sterc, on the other side, maintained that the bill should have taken a lot of time to draw up, since it tackles a complicated and serious problem. The Legislation Committee suggested that a general discussion be held about both bills, after which the Government should submit a new, single legal text. However, to avoid further postponement of the law, the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) bench proposed that the bills be sent in to the second reading and be discussed in the possible third reading. Luka Bebic of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) called on all MPs to join the discussion for a better development of islands. Marin Jurjevic of the SDP accepted the Legislation Committee initiative, as did the Liberal Party (LS) and the Croatian Social- Liberal Party (HSLS). During the discussion, which lasted several hours, MPs presented a series of proposals for better traffic infrastructure, measures for economic development, especially in tourism and agriculture, water supply and sewerage systems on islands and better fire prevention. Measures for demographic revival were also mentioned. Josko Kovac of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) and Anto Djapic of the HSP warned of problems in education. The need for every larger island to have one secondary school, is of vital importance for young people to stay on islands. Djapic also warned of the poor health care situation on islands. The discussion stressed the need for the overall tax policy to be different in the long term. Also presented were proposals for the establishment of two counties including islands. The Opposition objected mostly to the proposal on land tenure for arable but not tended to land, which has an owner. Mato Arlovic of the SDP described the proposal as anti- constitutional, because it encroached upon the right to private ownership. The objection was supported by the LS. The Lower House opened a discussion on the bill on banks, which would increase supervision of commercial banks by the central bank. MPs will not sit tomorrow due to the Pope's arrival. (hina) rml/sp 011541 MET oct 98