PARLAMENTARY PARTIES REACH NO CONSENSUS ON OFFICIALS' SALARIES

( Editorial: --> 6014 ) ZAGREB, Oct 5 (Hina) - Croatian parliamentary parties on Monday held a closed seminar at which they decided there would be no consensus on changes and amendments to the Law on Rights and Duties of State Officials related to the officials' salaries. The seminar also concluded the parties would most probably agree on a bill on the official use of language and script of national minorities. Difference of opinion was stated as regards the amount of the state officials' salaries not only between the opposition and the ruling Croatian Democratic Union, but also among the opposition itself. Opposition parties only agreed in the opinion that according to the government's proposal, the salaries of state officials were too high and ought to be related to the average salary in the country. As regards a bill on the official use of language and script of national minorities, it was agreed that the Ministry of Administration should make a precise catalogue of the self- government and government domains of counties. The most uncertain issue in the said bill is whether the official use of a minority language, which is ensured in units of local self- government - towns and municipalities, should also be allowed on county level. (hina) ha 052231 MET oct 98