LOWER HOUSE: DEBATE ON PRIVATISATION BILL

ZAGREB, Feb 16 (Hina) - The House of Representatives today revoked the 1996 Census Act. There will therefore be no census this year. The House confirmed an agreement with the United States on the sale of agricultural produce, with a special rider enjoining the Government to ensure that the proceeds from the sale of American cooking oil be directed into agricultural production. The House also discussed the Privatisation Bill. The Bill was presented by the Minister of Privatisation and National Wealth Management, Ivan Penic, who said that the transformation of former socially-owned companies was nearly completed. The proposed Bill regulates the rights of small shareholders and introduces coupon privatisation for certain segments of the population. "Ownership transformation has been completed in 2,557 companies; in the liberated areas, 142 companies still have to undergo transformation," Penic said. Istrian Democratic Parliament (IDS) Member Damir Kajin opposed the Act, which was "unfair and unjust." Instead of the proposed privatisation model, which was "unadequate and unlawful", Kajin proposed the distribution of free share vouchers. Ivan Gabelica of the Croatian Party of Rights was of the opinion that the Privatisation Bill should not be debated before the Denationalisation Bill, all the more so since the text presented to the House seemed fairly unfinished. Liberal Member Ivan Herak proposed that the government investigate the legal situation in the 'transformed' companies within two months, and only then table the Bill for parliamentary procedure. Social Democrat Ivica Racan said the Bill was not based on social justice, while the Peasants' Party representative Zlatko Tomcic warned that the Bill was based on the "selfish pragmatism of a certain group." Franjo Greguric (HDZ) was of the opinion that Croatia could not implement the Hungarian privatisation model because of the war. The vote on the Privatisation Bill was postponed for the next session. (hina) mm as 162302 MET feb 96