ZAGREB, Jan 15 (Hina) - The Croatian government is planning to allocate 10 million kuna for the renewal of arable land on islands and in the coastal regions which were devastated by last summer's fires.
ZAGREB, Jan 15 (Hina) - The Croatian government is planning to allocate
10 million kuna for the renewal of arable land on islands and in the
coastal regions which were devastated by last summer's fires.#L#
The funds for this purpose, which will be ensured also by local
authorities and from other sources, will be given to individuals and
companies that possess forests and farmland, hit by fires last
summer.
In 2003, 17,500 hectares of forests and farmland were consumed by
fires and the damage came to one billion kuna, Agriculture Minister
Petar Cobankovic told the government at Thursday's session.
Discussing the damage caused by this sort of diaster, government
members agreed that a programme for fire prevention should be urgently
drawn up and the financing of the fire-fighting sector systematically
solved.
The issue will be discussed by defence and interior ministers at their
joint meeting next week.
Considering the situation on the wheat and flour market, the Ivo
Sanader cabinet decided to order exporters of flour to pay export duty
of 6.9 euro per 100 kilogrammes of exported wheat. This temporary
measure will be in force by 15 July this year.
The other measure aimed at defusing the situation on this market is
the decision to import 50,000 tonnes free of duty.
Besides, the government decided to import 25,000 of potatoes without
import duties. Preferential quotas refer to the import from World
Trade Organisation members, and one fifth of the approved quantity
refers to the import from EU members.
(1EUR =7.7 kuna)
(Hina) ms