KONTIC STILL HASN'T RECEIVED CONTROVERSIAL 'VECERNJI LIST' SALE TAPE

ZAGREB, April 20 (Hina) - The president of a parliamentary commission of inquiry probing the sale of Croatia's largest circulation daily paper on Thursday said there was no reason to dissolve the commission now that the Interior Ministry had launched an investigation into the case. At today's session, the commission probing the sale of "Vecernji List" has decided it will not convene or call witnesses to avoid unnecessarily duplicating investigative work, commission president Josko Kontic told reporters after the session, adding the commission would continue functioning in line with the law and deadlines set by parliament's House of Representatives. Asked if he had taken over and listened to a controversial tape from the President of the Republic's official residence, containing a conversation late President Franjo Tudjman had held with his adviser on internal affairs Ivic Pasalic on the sale of "Vecernji List", Kontic said he had not yet received the tape. He did not want to comment on a transcript of the conversation he had been given because, he said, he had agreed so with the rest of the commission of inquiry. Kontic announced the commission would hand over all documents in its possession to the Interior Ministry. The current break in the commission's work could not be called a "freeze", because the commission possesses documentation which it must analyse and submit conclusions to the House of Representatives, Kontic said, adding he was entitled to call a session when he thought it was necessary. (hina) ha jn