BILL ON NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICE PASSED IN FIRST READING

ZAGREB, Dec 7 (Hina) - The House of Representatives today passed a Bill on the National Security Office in the first reading. The Bill, tabled by the parliamentary home policy and national security committee, defines the Office as an executive body accountable to the President, under Art. 106 of the Croatian Constitution. Chairman of the national security committee, Luka Bebic, said the bill regulated the functioning and defined the respective tasks of various intelligence services. Several Opposition Members criticised the Bill. Liberal Member Goran Granic said it was not clear who would supervise the work of the Office. He was seconded by Perica Juric (Croatian Independent Democrats) who said the final result might be a concurrence of jurisdiction between various ministries. Social Democrat Mate Arlovic expressed doubts as to the constitutionality of the Bill, insisting that the Office must be accountable to the Parliament. The House was then addressed by Marijan Prus on behalf of the Government. Prus said the Government was backing the Bill, with a few reservations. He suggested that the Office should also be accountable to the Government. The House then passed the Bill in the first reading, with a rider to the effect that suggestions from the debate should be included in the final version. The House appointed a 67-strong ad-hoc committee for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the victory over fascism. Speaker Nedjeljko Mihanovic was appointed chairman of the committee. (hina) mm as 072036 MET dec 94