Zagreb, (IKA) – In the building of the Croatian Conference of Bishops in Zagreb, on Tuesday, January 22, the Statement by the Justice and Peace Commission of the CCB on the Proposed Strategic Investment Projects Act of the Republic of Croatia (SIPARC) was presented. In the Statement, the Commission expressed opposition to the separation of forest and water from the public assets of the Republic of Croatia. The Commission does not consider the draft legislation to be good and urged the Croatian authorities to delay the adoption and implementation of the act in order to inform the populace about it through public discussion.
The participants in the presentation included the President of the Justice and Peace Commission, Bishop Vlado Košić of Sisak; the Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Gordan Črpić; a Member of the Commission, Dr. Neven Šimac; and the Vice President of Matica hrvatska, Mr. Stjepan Sučić.
At the beginning of the presentation, Bishop Košić expressed satisfaction at the full support given to the Statement by Matica hrvatska, an important cultural institution, for which he thanked its President, Prof. Igor Zidić. The bishop further argued for the preservation of public assets that belong to the entire nation. Bishop Košić called alienating these assets, allowing private persons to become their owners, a “bell that sounds an alarm,” noting how “the sense of religious responsibility prompts us to speak out about the proposed legislation.” Then Dr. Šimac presented the Statement itself, emphasizing that the Commission considers it a moral duty and responsibility to express its strong reservations and grounded suspicions to the Croatian public regarding the time and manner, as well as the subject and procedure, anticipated by the proposed SIPARC. Croatia was left with very few public assets, including natural resources (sea and water, forests and land) as well as those vital works of human hands built by previous generations (highway/road networks, railways, information transfer, harbor traffic and various pipelines …) which on the one hand should guarantee the right to universal natural resources and, on the other, sustainable development for this and future generations. All Croatian citizens must have the right to discuss, propose and make sovereign decisions regarding these remaining assets, as emphasized in the Statement. Dr. Šimac also pointed out that the draft of the SIPARC was only published a week ago, with less than ten days allotted for citizens and associations to exercise their right to comment on it, which the Commission considers completely inappropriate because the subject of the law is not merely investment in new or existing production and service activities but the possible selling off of nearly all the remaining natural resources, fixed cultural goods and other public assets, in addition to about 30 of the 54 public enterprises such as all the major airports, Ploče Harbor or Rijeka Harbor,” said Dr. Šimac. It is also unacceptable to the Commission that a “fast-track procedure” is sought for such a landmark and actually fateful decision, leaving citizens and associations only a week for discussion. Therefore, the Commission proposes that the deadlines should be revised and the draft of the Government’s proposed legislation should be presented to the populace and public institutions should be given a period of at least a month, after which there should be at least as much time for public discussion, commentary and suggestions. Moreover, such important questions, which not only encroach upon the rights of all living citizens but also future generations—should not exclude a referendum, which would be conducted and binding upon this government and all future governments, said Dr. Šimac because, as he mentioned in his presentation, this concerns the “remnants of the remnants of the Croatian family treasure.” Behind such attempts to sell off public assets, according to Dr. Šimac, is concealed a neoliberal logic that has achieved, as he called it, “polycrises” because the current crises do not affect only finance and the economy but also climate, food and water. In conclusion, he cited several examples from the experiences of European countries where the privatization of public assets did not turn out well and they were returned to state management. Then Mr. Stjepan Sučić addressed the large group of journalists, noting that Matica hrvatska, the oldest Croatian cultural institution, expressed full support for the Statement at the last session of its Presidency, which was cosigned by its President, Prof. Igor Zidić. On this issue, Croatian citizens must not be left without a voice. Regarding these issues of vital interest to the Republic of Croatia, in addition to politicians, intellectuals must decide and commit themselves to the preservation of Croatian assets. Mr. Sučić specifically supported the idea that it is necessary to educate people for politics, who will know how best to run this country. In conclusion, he expressed the hope that the Croatian Parliament will respond appropriately to this request and that the Government will not turn a deaf ear to the readiness of Matica Hrvatska to participate actively so that the proposals and comments contained in the Statement will taken under consideration, said Mr. Sučić.