QUESTION TIME AT SESSION OF CRO UPPER HOUSE

ZAGREB, June 16 (Hina) - Croatian Parliament House of Counties members put several questions to the Government during Monday's question time at the upper house's session. Most of the questions referred to economy and road construction. Answering to Ivica Skaric of the HSLS (Croatian Social and Liberal Party), Premier Matesa said that the tender for the construction of the Solin-Klis road (southern Croatia) had been finished and that they got a price considerably lower than the initial one. Matesa said the road could be built in ten months. Matesa announced that the Zagreb-Split highway through St.Rok tunnel would be constructed soon after 2000. The Government opted for the northern variant of the Zagreb-Rijeka highway section by Karlovac, as this section was shorter by 14 kilometres and cheaper by some 140 million German marks, Transport Minister, Zeljko Luzavec, responded to a question by Ankica Mamic of the HSLS. Dragutin Bracun of the HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union), asked when border passes would be issued on the ground of recently signed agreement between Croatia and Slovenia. Matesa said the agreement was operational and the issuing of passes would start soon. Ivan Ninic of the SDP (Social Democratic Party) asked whether the claim was true that Sibenik's residents failed to prevent the collapse of the town's electrolysis plant due to their lack of knowledge, and also what the Government was intending to do to help the economy of that part of southern Croatia. Matesa replied that Government had already taken "expensive measures" in Sibenik, and added that reorganisation of that aluminium factory was one of the most expensive investments of Croatia. "Poor condition of economy in that area was the result of long-standing poor economic structure," Matesa explained. Pasko Bubalo of the HDZ wanted to know when the Government would pay the debt to the economy of the Sibenik and Drnis areas, which amounted to 45.5 million kuna, according to him. Matesa replied that the Government would first collect higher debts of others and then it would pay its debts to the last coin. Answering to a question of Dragan Papac of the HDZ, the Premier said that the Government would co-finance budgets of the municipalities in the Croatian Danube area. Asked by Miroslav Rozic of the HSP (Croatian Party of Rights), whether it was true that there was an internal instruction among policemen in Lika-Senj County to "keep Serb refugees who have returned, round-the-clock", Matesa stressed the equality before the law referred to the equal security of all citizens. To avoid incidents was in the interest of Croatia, he added. In connection with the Pula incident during the pre-election campaign, the Croatian Government had voiced its regret and authorised relevant ministries to take necessary action and close the case, the Premier said answering to a question of Ivica Skaric of the HSLS. (hina) mš 161850 MET jun 97