ZAGREB, 17 June (Hina) - The Parliament House of Counties ended its second session on Tuesday by supporting a bill on sports.
ZAGREB, 17 June (Hina) - The Parliament House of Counties ended its
second session on Tuesday by supporting a bill on sports. #L#
After a lengthy discussion, the upper house unanimously supported a
program on implementing the national strategy of prevention of drug
abuse in Croatia in 1997, along with a report on the execution of a
similar program in 1996.
In implementing the national strategy of prevention of drug abuse,
one should continue to establish centres for prevention and out-of-
hospital treatment of drug addicts, as well as organise various programs
for pupils' leisure-time activities and participate in the drafting of
regulations which refer to drug abuse, Science and Technology Minister
Ivica Kostovic said.
Jovan Bamburac (appointed MP) said that the program was not
quantified adequately, which is necessary is one wants to follow its
effectiveness.
Several MPs, including Miroslav Rozic of the Croatian Party of
Rights (HSP) stressed that prevention and education were much more
important than the founding of prevention centres. Supporting the
program, Aldo Skira of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) asked
whether there was a possibility for positive results of some communities
for the treatment of drug addicts in Italy and Spain to be applied in
Croatia as well.
The House of Counties supported a bill on the confirmation of a
contract on a loan for the adjustment of the financial sector and
companies between Croatia and the International Reconstruction and
Development Bank. The time of repayment of the DM-160-million loan is 15
years with a five-year grace period and LIBOR interest rate increased by
the amount of margin (annual interest rate 3.32%).
The loan is very favourable, Deputy Finance Minister Mijo Jukic
said, adding that it is intended for the restructuring of the country's
banking system.
The MPs also okayed a bill on changes and amendments to the
Privatisation Law, which is in urgent procedure.
It was proposed that the assets acquired through the sale of shares
and which the Croatian Privatisation Fund acquired on the basis of a law
on the transformation of socially-owned enterprises, as well as objects
and rights the Fund acquired on the basis of special regulations, become
the income of the state budget (so far, they have been directed to the
Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development). The assets would be
used for the reconstruction of the Croatian Danube river region and
other liberated areas as well as for the restructuring of economy.
Decisions concerning their distribution and conditions for their
use would be made by the Government.
The upper house unanimously supported a bill on harbour
authorities, which envisages the establishment of harbour authorities as
local units of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and
Communications, a Ministry's representative Mario Babic said.
According to the bill, a port authority office should be
established in each Croatian county on the coast, with the exception of
Dubrovnik County, where two port authority offices - in Dubrovnik and
Ploce - should be established.
The bill on sports defines the terms sports and sports activities,
sources for their financing as well as the relation between amateur and
professional sport.
The bill proposes that one third of money raised by lottery be
directed to the Croatian Olympic Committee.
The existing law on sports from 1992 had been changed three times
and the Government decided to design a new legal text, which would
retain positive regulations and propose new, better solutions, said Vice
Premier Ljerka Mintas-Hodak.
The House of Counties also supported a proposal by Milorad
Kovacevic to nominate Kata Soljic for UNESCO's peace prize for 1997.
(hina) rm
172016 MET jun 97