ZAGREB, Jan 18 (Hina) - Croatian Sabor (parliament) Lower House on Thursday discussed the draft project on national demographic renewal.
ZAGREB, Jan 18 (Hina) - Croatian Sabor (parliament) Lower House on
Thursday discussed the draft project on national demographic
renewal. #L#
Describing the document -- titled National Program of
Demographic Development of the Republic of Croatia -- as a
strategic national project, Marija Bajt of the Croatian Democratic
Union (HDZ) said it should be "not only adopted but also urgently
implemented."
Zeljka Antunovic, who spoke on behalf of the Social Democrats'
(SDP) bench, said the Program was "too nationally colored instead
of being pointed at all Croatia's citizens."
She added "someone should eventually establish exact number of
young people who left the country over past five years", since
there were speculations, she said, that the number was "so
catastrophic" that the government "fears to make it public."
Djurdja Adlesic of the Social Liberal Party (HSLS) praised the
government for making the Program, saying that particular attention
should be paid to the families which already have children.
Speaking on behalf of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS)
bench, Axel Luttenberger questioned to what extent may the state
infiltrate the personality of an individual, adding it was exactly
what the document did.
Nikola Ivanis of the SDP said that Croatia's poor demographic
picture was largely grounded on privatization after which as much
as 80 percent of the employed felt insecure.
Ante Beljo of the HDZ stressed the state should devise another
program, focused on the housing problems, particularly for the
young people who should be offered favorable housing loans.
Vladimir Seks of the HDZ singled out for praise a part of the
document related to the areas next to Croatian eastern borders. The
areas were strategic for the country and particularly there the
emigration trend should be reverted, he added.
Saying the situation was alarming, Drago Krpina of the HDZ
recalled that if nothing is done the overall national population
would reduce by seven percent by the year of 2021.
"This means two entire towns, or a thousand villages, out of
6,800 we currently have in total," he said.
Josip Pankretic of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) focused
on the problem of the rural communities which were in much worse
position than the people in towns, saying it was the reason why
young people in the villages seldom decided to have more children.
(Hina) mm bk
181920 MET jan 96