CROATIAN GOVT ADOPTS EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM FOR DEMOBILIZED SOLDIERS

ZAGREB, April 18 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday adopted a program for employment of demobilized Croatian Army soldiers and a report on care for soldiers and war victims. The government also sent a number of bills to parliament for consideration, including those on customs tariffs and bankruptcy. Since Croatian army operation "Storm" in August last year, about 100,000 Croatian soldiers had been demobilized, of whom almost 45,000 were unemployed, Deputy Prime Minister Ljerka Mintas- Hodak said. The government had drawn up an employment program for them and was planning to finance it from the budget with 250 million kuna this year. The funds intended for the reconstruction of the economy and revival of liberated areas would also be used for their employment, Mintas-Hodak added. The customs tariffs bill proposed a substantial reduction of customs rates from the current 1-35 per cent to 5-25 per cent. The bankruptcy bill would reduce the currently excessive powers of courts and official receivers. (hina) vm jn 181848 MET apr 96