ZAGREB, Nov 12 (Hina) - The draft budget for 1999, which the +Government must forward to the Croatian National Parliament by +November 15 is almost complete.+ The Government will in the next several days call a news conference +to
explain the proposed budgetary earnings and expenditures, +Croatian Finance Minister Borislav Skegro told reporters on +Thursday after a closed-door Government session.+ Skegro did not say anything about the amount of funds in the draft +budget.+ This year's budget amounted to more than US$7 billion.+ Commenting on articles in some papers that there would be more funds +allocated for the salaries of workers who are paid from the budget +in the wake of next year's electoral campaign, Skegro said "the +budget is always a complete unit and cannot be placed into the +context of elections."+ "There will be more funds for salaries, and the average salary for +next year...
ZAGREB, Nov 12 (Hina) - The draft budget for 1999, which the
Government must forward to the Croatian National Parliament by
November 15 is almost complete.
The Government will in the next several days call a news conference
to explain the proposed budgetary earnings and expenditures,
Croatian Finance Minister Borislav Skegro told reporters on
Thursday after a closed-door Government session.
Skegro did not say anything about the amount of funds in the draft
budget.
This year's budget amounted to more than US$7 billion.
Commenting on articles in some papers that there would be more funds
allocated for the salaries of workers who are paid from the budget
in the wake of next year's electoral campaign, Skegro said "the
budget is always a complete unit and cannot be placed into the
context of elections."
"There will be more funds for salaries, and the average salary for
next year... could increase by 14.8 per cent," he added.
Asked how far the Government had come in drafting measures for the
alleviation of insolvency, Skegro stressed that measures proposed
will not be drastic.
One measure for resolving insolvency will be the affirmation of an
instrument of payment, usual all over the world, such as the bill of
exchange. Whoever signs a bill of exchange which bounces will be
held responsible by law.
Skegro said that the state, in opposition to what the public is
often tried to be exposed to, is a huge net creditor. He explained by
that he meant the central budget, the health insurance and pension
funds, as well as public companies.
(hina) lml jn /sp