CROATIAN LOWER HOUSE PASSES SEVERAL ACTS

ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament's House of Representatives on Friday unanimously passed an act on housing savings and government-stimulated housing savings, and an act on government-supported long-term housebuilding financing, both forwarded into procedure by representative Djuro Njavro. The representatives also endorsed a report on the enforcement of a law on the rights of Croatian Homeland War defenders and members of their families, and a report on the execution of the government budget in the first six months of this year. An act ratifying a loan agreement between Croatia and the International bank for Reconstruction and Development for the adjustment of the financial sector and enterprises was also passed, with a conclusion binding the Croatian government to submit to the parliament a proposal of a long-term economic development strategy before calling in the second part of the loan. The DM 160 million-worth agreement loan envisages the calling up of a 80 million-worth first instalment immediately upon the contract's ratification, while the calling up of the second instalment is linked with the compliance with conditions from a letter on development policy. The representatives' remarks centred around the envisaged partial privatization of several public corporations, such as INA-Oil Industry, Croatian Post and Telecommunications, Croatian Electric Power Industry. Today, the Lower House also passed an act on privatization investment funds, a sports act, and an act on the ratification of a consular convention between Croatia and Yugoslavia. The representatives also endorsed the Croatian National Bank's yearly reports for 1996, and the bank's financial plan for this year. The Lower House session is to continue later this month. (hina) ha jn 031844 MET oct 97