SEKS COMMENTS ON PARLIAMENT'S WORK IN 1998

ZAGREB, Dec 30 (Hina) - Both houses of the Croatian National Sabor have successfully fulfilled their legislative obligations, considering the great number of laws adopted in 1998. The role of the House of Representatives was not as active as it should have been and this should be improved next year, a Sabor Vice President, Vladimir Seks, told reporters on Wednesday. The role of the Parliament in overseeing the executive authorities next year should be further developed, Seks added. He said that the legislative work of the Parliament had been completed to a great extent and next year MPs would focus more on political topics connected with the social policy, education and the public health. Commenting on the resignation of representatives from six opposition parties to all parliamentary posts except as MPs, caused by their dissatisfaction with the work of the Internal Affairs and National Safety Committee in connection with the Security and Intelligence Service (SIS) affair, Seks said they had reached agreement in principle and formed a working group to discuss all contentious issues. This group will also participate in drawing up the election legislation, and make decisions by consensus, in line with the agreement reached at its first meeting. (hina) ms/rml