CROAT PARLIAMENT PASSES BILL ON OFFICE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY

ZAGREB, May 17 (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament House of Representatives finished today's work by unanimous adoption of the Bill on the Office for National Security. The Bill on the Office for the National Security was not discussed at the Parliament session, and 72 deputies present at the session voted for the Bill. The opposition parties' deputies, who left the session before the voting on the amendments to the Labour Bill, were not present also during the voting on the Bill on the Office for the National Security. The Act on the Office for the National Security defines the Office as a state executive body which harmonizes, gives guidelines to and supervises the bodies of state administration which perform tasks in connection with national security. The Act provides that the Office perform its duties according to the provisions made on the grounds of the Act and according to general and special instructions of the President of Croatia. The Office cares for the counterintelligence protection and security of the President, Parliament and Government as well as the facilities they use. The work of the Office should be carried out by its head, appointed and dismissed by the President of Croatia. The Office's head is directly responsible for his own and the Office's work to the President of Croatia. The Office should regularly submit reports to the President of Croatia, in line with the Act. The President of Croatia is entitled to supervise the work of the Office, whereas also the House of Representatives supervise regularity of its work through the parliamentary committee for home policies and national security. The Office is expected to submit an annual report on its work to this parliamentary committee and special reports at the request of the committee. (hina) jn mms 172114 MET may 95