CROATIAN GOVT ADOPTS BILL ON PRIVATISATION, INVESTMENT FUNDS

ZAGREB, July 11 (Hina) - The Croatian government at Friday's 100th session adopted a Bill on privatisation and investment funds which will be forwarded for an urgent procedure to the Parliament in September. The Bill is part of the voucher privatisation in which are participating between 300,000 and 350,000 persons - invalids of the Homeland War, and will concern 17 to 18 billion kuna's worth of shares from the Croatian Privatisation Fund portfolio. So far, over 60,000 persons who have the right to voucher privatisation have registered, and the process in expected to end by the beginning of October. All institutions working with foreign money must be strictly controlled, Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa said in a discussion on the report on the control and security in business of insurance companies last year. There were 16 insurance companies and one re-insurance company were on the market last year. Finance Minister Bozo Prka held that on the Croatian insurance market, which is worth about three billion kuna annually, the current number of insurance companies was sufficient, but had to improve the quality of business. Especially companies which did not have the minimum capital stipulated by the law. The Bill on road transport embraces two laws, on national and international road traffic. The bill stipulates that the conditions of business and control of road traffic be harmonised with European standards, and that permits for road transport would be issued by public competition, for a period of five years. The government also adopted a report in the second round of bilateral talks on Croatia's admittance into the World Trade Organisation as full member. The talks were held with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. (hina) lm mm 111435 MET jul 97