OPPOSITION REJECTS; HDZ SUPPORTS REPORT ON PRIVATISATION FUND

ZAGREB, Nov 20 (Hina) - The Report on the Activities of the Croatian Privatisation Fund (HFP) in 1997 is lacking important facts, most opposition MPs said during Friday's session of the Sabor's House of Representatives, which lasted several hours. Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) representatives supported the report. The parliamentary benches of the Liberal Party (LS), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Croatian People's Party (HNS), Istrian Democratic Forum (IDF), Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), and the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) said the report only looked good. They presented numerous cases of privatisation to support their assessment on irregularities, calling for stricter supervision and revision of transformation and privatisation procedures. The opposition MPs also pointed out the numerous negative consequences of the privatisation process, such as the laying off of workers, an increase in the number of pensioners, and the transfer of social wealth into the pockets "of more or less the chosen ones". The ruling HDZ party endorsed the report, calling for moderateness in criticism and punishment of those responsible for irregularities. (hina) jn rml