LOWER HOUSE CONTINUES DRAFT BUDGET DISCUSSION

ZAGREB, Jan 20 (Hina) - The Croatian Sabor (parliament) Lower House continued to discuss draft 1996 budget on Saturday, after Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa and Finance Minister Bozo Prka expounded it and opened discussion yesterday. #L# The discussion was opened by Juraj Njavro who, speaking on behalf of the Labor, Social Policy and Public Health committee, said it was unacceptable to enlarge the budget by 14 percent while at the same time the nominal amount to be paid to final users remained the same. Recalling the problems pensioners and elderly people, he added the budget did not follow the measures envisaged in the National Program of Demographic Development either. Mato Arlovic of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said the budget controverted the tasks government had assigned to itself for 1996. It offered no answers of how to draw the foreign capital and facilitate economic development, and would have negative influence to the transition problems as well. His party colleague Zeljka Antunovic said it was bad that the budget had risen faster than the GNP. She suggested that the sales tax rate should be reduced from 20 to 15 percent, which would make the surplus of about 800 million kunas (U.S. dlrs 157 million) to be redirected to social programs. Krunoslav Slabinac of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) stressed that budget showed no priorities for the Osijek county area. Snjezana Biga-Friganovic (SDP) questioned whether the country needed six new airports, while the money was sufficient to construct two roads. Jozo Maric (HDZ) praised the budget's assignment for the Bosnian Croats, the Nova Bila hospital and their cultural associations. Juraj Biscan of the Peasants' Party (HSS) spoke of the hardships in agriculture, while his party colleague Petar Zitnik said the budget was unjust and unfeasible, as the GNP growth of 8 percent was only "a matter of (government) good wishes." Bozidar Kalmeta (HDZ) questioned whether the budget had predicted the costs for the new Maslenica bridge and nearby tunnel, as well as for hospital and cultural monuments restoration in Zadar. Radimir Cacic of the People's Party (HNS) urged for a strict control of the budget. Katarina Fucek (HDZ) underscored the importance of the Gorican - Varazdin - Zagreb - Rijeka highway and suggested reduction of the salaries tax. Vera Stanic (HDZ) focused on the most vulnerable and deprived citizens, recalling that over 60 percent of pensions amounted less than 700 kunas (U.S. dlrs 137) monthly. Zarko Domljan (HDZ) protested over item related to cultural heritage objects, while his party colleague Marcel Majsec urged that the amount assigned to the Zagreb -Macelj highway be enlarged. Jurica Pavelic (HDZ) said items assigned to development might have been better allocated. Speaking on behalf of the Croatian Party of Right (HSP) Vlado Jukic said the budget was generally a peace-time one, with which the party disagreed, since the war was not over and therefore the military costs should be enlarged. The discussion was to be over today, since only ten more speakers were to address the Sabor later in the day, parliament speaker Vlatko Pavletic said. (Hina) bk 201617 MET jan 96