ZAGREB, Dec 17 (Hina) - Members of Parliament benches of the +majority party in Parliament, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), +at the House of Representatives stated Thursday the Government's +draft budget for 1999 was balanced and
guaranteed economic and +social stability.+ Most of opposition party benches, on the other hand, held that the +draft budget was unrealistic, expenditures too high, tax +obligations too high and it did not provide an opportunity for +economic revival.+ HDZ MP Djuro Njavro pointed out tax reliefs in next year, and the +fact that the budget had been drafted with the estimates of lesser +foreign debts.+ Njavro said that prognoses of catastrophes, instability and +collapse had not been fulfilled in the past several years, and they +would not come true in 1999 either.+ On behalf of the bench of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dragica +Zgrebec, assessed the economy was facing a collap
ZAGREB, Dec 17 (Hina) - Members of Parliament benches of the
majority party in Parliament, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ),
at the House of Representatives stated Thursday the Government's
draft budget for 1999 was balanced and guaranteed economic and
social stability.
Most of opposition party benches, on the other hand, held that the
draft budget was unrealistic, expenditures too high, tax
obligations too high and it did not provide an opportunity for
economic revival.
HDZ MP Djuro Njavro pointed out tax reliefs in next year, and the
fact that the budget had been drafted with the estimates of lesser
foreign debts.
Njavro said that prognoses of catastrophes, instability and
collapse had not been fulfilled in the past several years, and they
would not come true in 1999 either.
On behalf of the bench of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dragica
Zgrebec, assessed the economy was facing a collapse.
Estimating as unrealistic an eight per cent budget increase, as the
GDP was on an increase at a lower rate, she said the SDP bench could
not endorse the draft budget.
Bozo Kovacevic on behalf of the Liberal Party (LS) said the
Government had proposed a war-time, not peace-time budget,
considering the decrease of funds for the Defence Ministry was only
three per cent, although the war ended three years ago.
Ivan Jakovcic said on behalf of the Istrian Democratic Forum (IDS)
bench the Government's proposal did not provide good solutions.
He suggested a direct stimulation of export and subsidies for
agriculture and tourism.
On behalf of independent MPs of national minorities, Njegovan
Starek, said not even in the second reading of the budget, there are
no funds for pre-schools and schools for national minorities.
Besides, he said, the Office for National Minorities shares their
funds with non-existent associations or phantom Serb
associations.
Jozo Kovac of the Croatian Peasants' party (HSS) said the draft
budget was only a means for existence and the Government failed to
pay attention to the ship-building industry, small-scale
entreperneurship, agriculture and tourism.
Srecko Bijelic requested on behalf of the Croatian Peoples' Party
(HNS) and the Istrian Democratic Forum (IDF) that the adoption of
the budget be postponed by next March, and in the meantime, a
'temporary financing' be applied.
Ivan Herak for the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) bench said
his party would not endorse the draft budget because they
considered it socially irresponsible and centralist.
Ante Djapic for the Croatian Party of rights (HSP) said a decrease
in funds for the Defence Ministry was very risky. He also said only a
minimum of funds was being set aside for the Croatian Defence
Council in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the funds which help to sustain the
sovereignty of the Croat people in Bosnia.
(hina) lml jn