GOVT PROPOSES MINE CLEARANCE BILL, NEW RULES FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS

ELECTIONS $ ZAGREB, Feb 22 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday sent a number of bills to Parliament for consideration, including a mine clearance bill and draft amendments regulating local elections. The mine clearance bill was very important and its adoption was a precondition for the return of refugees, Interior Minister Ivan Jarnjak said. Three million various explosive devices had been laid by both sides during the war in Croatia and 100,000 of them were still not defused. Because of great risks in mine clearing operations, the bill would ensure an accelerated retirement plan for explosives experts. Health Minister Andrija Hebrang proposed that the status of medical teams participating in mine removal operations be regulated by law. Amendments to the Local Elections Act proposed that one constituency should be made up of one local government unit and that representatives to government bodies should be elected only from party lists. Administration Minister Davorin Mlakar proposed that party lists contain only members of parties which put up their candidates on the list. Vice Premier Ljerka Mintas-Hodak said that this would limit the constitutional rights of an individual who had the right to chose and be chosen. The final decision would be reached through parliamentary procedure. (hina) lm jn 221842 MET feb 96