CROATIAN LOWER HOUSE BEGINS THREE-DAY SESSION ( Editorial: --> 8314 )

( Editorial: --> 8314 ) ZAGREB, Nov 5 (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament's House of Representatives began a session on Wednesday morning with question time. Responding to deputies' questions Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa said that there would be no negotiations on the use of the southern Croatian Adriatic port of Ploce for the commercial purposes of the Bosnian Federation until Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina discussed a draft agreement on special relations between Croatia and the Federation. Matesa said that the government had already prepared the text of the agreement in line with the Washington and Dayton peace agreements, giving assurances that Croatian sovereignty over the port of Ploce was not at issue. A part of that agreement regulates the status of Ploce port and unimpeded passage through the Neum region, a short stretch of the coast belonging to the Bosnian Federation. After question time, Sergej Morsan was sworn in as new tourism minister following a vote of confidence at the last session. During a three-day session, deputies will discuss 14 items on the agenda, including a report on the work of the Commission for Imprisoned and Missing Persons. (hina) vm jn 051345 MET nov 97