GOVERNMENT DRAWS UP SECURITY SERVICES BILL

ZAGREB, Feb 21 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday formulated a bill on security services, with Prime Minister Ivica Racan saying he hoped a huge step forward would be made towards bringing order into the services, in their organisation, and preventing abuse. The bill, 18 months in the making, instead of the current four, envisages three security services - the Intelligence Agency (OA), the Counter-Intelligence Agency (POA), and the Military-Security Service (VSA). A national security council, as an advisory and coordinating body which does not pass executive decisions, will be established to facilitate cooperation between the president of the republic and the government in steering the work of security services. The bill envisages the establishment of another national security body which will be presided by a government member in charge of national security. The bill provides a detailed definition of the rights and powers of military and civilian security services. The services have no police authority, can approach citizens only with their consent, while only the police force may exert measures of repression, said Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic. As for special measures, like wire-tapping, a decision on their use will be made by a Supreme Court judge. The control of parliament remains an open issue in order to give parliament itself the opportunity to define the control model. To avert abuse, members of the security services will not be allowed to be members of political parties or run at elections. (hina) ha sb