PARLIAMENT DEBATES SDP'S BILL ON PRIVATISATION CONTROL & REVISION

ZAGREB, Dec 10 (Hina) - The Croatian Sabor's House of Representatives began its Thursday session with a debate on a bill on privatisation control and revision motioned by the Social Democratic Party (SDP). SDP's Ivica Racan said privatisation control should establish whether all laws and undertaken obligations were complied with in the privatisation process. The government rejected the bill, stating it was against the constitution, said Privatisation Minister Milan Kovac. According to Racan, revision would be carried out in instances when irregularities have been established during the control process. The bill envisages that the privatisation control and revision would be carried out by a state commission and the State Audit Bureau. Property acquired by annulments would go to the employment and economic development fund, which would finance employment, the reconstruction of areas of special government concern, especially the war-ravaged eastern town of Vukovar, and would pay out compensations to pensioners. The Privatisation Minister was very critical of SDP's bill, especially the part referring to the establishment of a state commission for the control and revision of privatisation. He assessed the said commission, according to the bill, would be judge, prosecutor, attorney, and executioner all in one. Minister Kovac also said the bill would be anti-constitutional, would encroach upon ownership rights, and would serve as the basis for "new extortion." (hina) ha mm