LOWER HOUSE HEARS AUDITORS' REPORT ON COMMODITY RESERVES

ZAGREB, Oct 16 (Hina) - The House of Representatives on Wednesday heard state auditors' report on the financial transactions of the State Bureau for Commodity Reserves in 1995. Opposition members left the hall in the middle of the debate, protesting over the HRT's (Croatian Radio and TV) refusal to air the debate live. Most members supported a HDZ motion for setting up an investigative committee to probe controversial transactions involving wheat and corn from State Commodity Reserves. "The HDZ Bench considers there are reasonable grounds for establishing an investigative committee," said Vladimir Seks. "The committee should also look into the dealings of companies which do business with the Commodity Reserves Bureau and establish whether the Republic of Croatia suffered damage because of the export of wheat," he said. According to Marinko Filipovic of the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS), the "whole affair could not have been brought off without patronage from on high," which was a sufficient reason for "looking into the issue of responsibility of the whole Government." Speaking on behalf of the HSLS (Croatian Social Liberal Party) Bench, Ivan Herak holds the Parliament majority and the Government accountable for the current situation in the Commodity Reserves Bureau. "This is a most appalling document," said Mato Arlovic of the Socialist Democratic Party (SDP), referring to the Audit Office report. While both the Government as a whole and the relevant ministers were responsible for what had happened by virtue of their office, some members of the Government may have been directly involved in sharp practices, he said. Istrian Democratic Parliament (IDS) member Dino Debeljuh called for a disclosure of "names and amounts" and urged the district attorney to "wake up." However, in mid-session, several Opposition members noticed that the TV was not shooting the session as it had been requested to last week. Luka Trconic (HSS) immediately called for a break. Deputy Speaker Jadranka Kosor, who was chairing the session, informed the House that the HRT had notified the Parliament in writing that only Question Time and a motion for a vote of no confidence in the Government would be aired live. After the break, representatives of five Opposition parties left the session. Summing up, Seks said that since nobody had opposed the establishment of an investigative committee, it only remained to determine its membership - eight members from HDZ and seven from the Opposition, as he suggested. (hina) mm as 161745 MET oct 96