HDZ PRESIDENCY DISCUSSES POSSIBLE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF VAT

( Editorial: --> 7098 ) ZAGREB, 9 Dec (Hina) - The Presidency of the governing Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party held a session yesterday under the chairmanship of its president Franjo Tudjman. The HDZ Presidency pledged the Government to find ways in the application of value added tax which would enable Croat emigrant returnees not to pay taxes on imported equipment, a statement from the HDZ general secretariat said Tuesday. Discussing the objections on possible negative effects of the application of VAT in publishing and intellectual work, the HDZ Presidency pledged the Government to consider the possibility of removing all possible negative consequences. The HDZ Presidency also discussed numerous current political and internal party questions. It discussed the results of repeated elections for the County Assembly of Primorsko-goranska County and representative bodies of 12 towns and municipalities. It was established that HDZ's election failure in Primorsko- goranska County was caused by general social and political circumstances, and by weaknesses in the HDZ in Primorsko-goranska County. Not disputing the election victory of the leftist Social- Democratic Party (SDP) coalition, an analysis of election results shows that the number of voters of the coalition is not increasing compared to the elections in April 1997, the HDZ Presidency said, adding the election success was achieved also by election tactics and the appearance of rightist parties. The HDZ Presidency believes that the current situation can be changed through the solution of economic and social problems, radical personnel and organisational changes in the forthcoming internal party elections, as well as through organisational changes in the HDZ in Primorsko-goranska County, the statement said. (hina) jn rm 092010 MET dec 97