INTERIOR MINISTRY REJECTS ALLEGATIONS MADE BY WEEKLY 'NACIONAL'

ZAGREB, Dec 7 (Hina) - Croatia's Interior Ministry on Tuesday denied allegations published in an article entitled "The Secret Service of SZUP Bugs Telephones of the Acting President" in the latest issue of the "Nacional" weekly. According to a statement released by the Interior Ministry, that article contained several "shameless and foul lies". The weekly "Nacional" has been taking part, in its own way, in the pre-election campaign, the Ministry added. In this case the weekly used the already tested prescription - "fabrications and malevolent constructions about the work of the SZUP (The Service of the Protection of the Constitutional Order)", the statement read. The Interior Ministry emphasised that the SZUP did not tap Academician Vlatko Pavletic, the Croatian National Sabor President who was replacing the President of the Republic, Franjo Tudjman that was temporarily unable to perform his duties, neither did it tap Mate Granic, Croatia's Interior Minister or any Croatian official. This time again Nacional wanted, for reasons only known to this weekly, to create paranoiac fear in the public from the work of secret services, claiming that no one has control over the services, the Ministry said. Complying with Article 18 of the law on interior affairs, Interior Minister Ivan Penic notifies Pavletic of all measures and activities. This article specifies that when it is necessary for the safety and security of the land, Interior Minister can decide on measures against certain individuals or legal entities which can depart from the principle of inviolability of privacy of letters and other means of communications. The Minster is also bound to inform the President of the Republic of such measures as soon as possible. (hina) mm ms