CRO UPPER HOUSE ENDORSES BILL ON STATE OFFICIALS

( Editorial: --> 2652 ) ZAGREB, Feb 17 (Hina) - The Croatian National Parliament's House of Counties Tuesday unanimously endorsed a bill on obligations and rights of state officials. According to Administration Minister Davorin Mlakar, the bill would refer to the President of the Republic, parliamentary members, Constitutional Court judges, government members and officials elected or appointed by the parliament or the President of the Republic. Upon coming into office, these officials would have to give a statement on their financial situation. They could be members of supervisory and administration boards of trading companies in which the Republic of Croatia is the majority owner, but remuneration for these board duties would go directly to the state budget. State officials would have to transfer membership or ownership of shares in private trade companies to third parties. Pension conditions for members of parliament would be equal as for all other employed parties. The bill also proposes that the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, and presidents of the Parliament and the Constitutional and Supreme Courts have the right to use an official residence during the course of their mandate. Even though the bill was welcomed during today's discussion, the representatives believed it had arrived too late. They warned that the statement on the financial situation must be available to the public, to which Mlakar agreed. (hina) ha jn 172058 MET feb 98