Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- Croatia parliament adopts welfare cuts ZAGREB, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The Croatian parliament approved a set of laws on Friday to cut welfare spending, designed to save to two billion kuna ($243.7 million) a year and help the government close a gaping state budget hole. Government and parliament adopted the package to prevent the budget gap from overshooting an already high 5.3 percent of gross domestic product for 2001 agreed under a standby programme with the International Monetary Fund. Most of the new laws come into force on October 1. The laws cut child and maternity payments as well as the income of war veterans and invalids, and set the maximum possible pension income, including that of top state officials and the head of state, at 9,343 kuna a month. "It is a difficult social message to pass on, but it is important that they bite the bullet now," a Zagreb-based Western diplomat said. The reformist pro-European cabinet has faced growing public discontent due to rising unemployment and falling living standards.But the package of new laws sailed through parliament although the opposition fiercely criticised the government for perceived "social insensitivity." The government, which hopes to bring Croatia closer to the European Union, has vowed to pursue reforms and enforce further cuts, possibly in state administration, in the next two years. 06:52 09-21-01 ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: archive@jab.org T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
