HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN SESSION

ZAGREB, Dec 1 (Hina) - The House of Representatives today passed the Children Benefits Bill in the first reading. After the vote, Croatian Farmers' Party member Josip Pankretic took the floor but his words could not be heard. Speaker Nedjeljko Mihanovic then greeted representatives of the Vukovar Mothers Association, who were watching the proceedings from the gallery. The mothers asked to be allowed to address the House, but Mihanovic said they would be granted the floor when the issue of missing persons came up for debate. Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) and Croatian National Party (HNS) members repeatedly called for the missing persons issue to be put on the agenda and for the text of a tentative economic agreement with rebel Serbs to be distributed to deputies. Mihanovic said the home affairs and national security committee had not yet adopted a statement, which was to serve as grounds for the debate. Savka Dabcevic Kucar (HNS) said the national security committee was to adopt a statement on the Bihac situation, which was quite a different topic. The Speaker then ordered a brief recess to allow HSLS and HDZ clubs to meet separately. (hina) 011559 MET dec 94