LOWER HOUSE HEARS REPORT OF COMMISSION ON MASS GRAVES

ZAGREB, May 15 (Hina) - The House of Representatives ended its March session this evening, after hearing the annual report of the Commission on War and Post-War Victims. The House decided to take a vote on this issue at the next session. The Commission had collected data on 620 mass graves dating from World War II and the post-war period. Of that number, 500 graves were situated in Croatia, 80 in Slovenia and 40 in Bosnia- Herzegovina, but all contained bodies of Croatian citizens, Commission head Kazimir Sviben said. Liberal member Jozo Rados criticized the Commission's "haphazard" approach to excavation, as well as the absence of financial statements. "The Parliament is in charge of supervising the Commission's work and must know how funds have been spent," he stressed. Franjo Greguric (HDZ) praised the enormous work done by the commission, but proposed that further investigation be entrusted to a specialized institutions, founded by an Act of Parliament and financed from the national budget. Milivoj Kujundzic (HDZ) called for a more systematic approach and speedier results. A debate on preparations for the 1996 tourist season was also postponed for the next session, since only 30 members had remained in the Parliament Hall by that time. (hina) as 152158 MET mar 96