LAWMAKERS DISCUSS QUESTION OF MISSING PERSONS

ZAGREB, Feb 28 (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament House of Representatives on Wednesday resumed its session. On behalf of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) bench Jadranka Kosor warned that the problem of missing and imprisoned persons was frequently and unnecessarily being politicized. She recalled the last report on Croatia by UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali never even mentioned the issue. "Not a word about the 3,000 missing and imprisoned persons, not a word about their human rights or those of their loved ones," Kosor said. Jozo Rados of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) said that Croatia was never recognized for its cooperativeness with international humanitarian and other organizations. Ante Djapic of the Croatian Party of Right (HSP) said that the discovery of truth demands an aggressive and energetic approach in all talks with Belgrade. He held that no agreements should have been signed with the Serb side before the truth of missing Croatians has been found out. The Croatian Parliament (Sabor) should draft a document -a resolution which would be sent to parliaments in all countries which had recognized Croatia as a sovereign country, to the UN General Assembly, the European Council and non-governmental organizations, said Srecko Bijelic of the Croatian Peoples' Party (HNS). He added that the main problem was in its actual origin, in Serbian President "Milosevic and company". Djuro Njavro (HDZ) suggested that a precondition for the normalization of relations with Yugoslavia must be resolving the whereabouts of missing and imprisoned persons. Juraj Njavro (HDZ) suggested that an association called "The Mothers of Vukovar" open an office in Vukovar. Josip Pankretic (Croatian Peasants' Party, HSS) suggested that all relations with Yugoslavia be severed until the issue of missing and imprisoned persons was resolved. A Vice Premier, Ivica Kostovic, brought the session to a close with a warning that it was necessary to be cautious when it came to demands that the relations with Yugoslavia be normalized under the condition of resolving the issue of missing and imprisoned persons. Caution was necessary, he added, so as not to impede the politics which could arrive at resolving the issue. (hina) lm mm 282003 MET feb 96