SYMPOSIUM ON ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY FARMING HELD IN ZAGREB

itika ZAGREB, Feb 24 (Hina) - Of 3.2 million hectares of arable land in Croatia, only some 3,500 hectares (0.35%) are processed in accordance with ecological standards, and in this segment Croatia is lagging behind European Union member-countries in which some five percent of arable land is cultivated in line with ecological standards, President Stjepan Mesic said opening Tuesday's symposium on environmental-friendly agricultural programme for Croatia (the so-called POP programme).#L# To become an EU member is a strategic objective of Croatia, which implies high criteria, the head of state said adding that this particularly referred to environment friendly farming. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Petar Cobankovic told the symposium that the protection of environment and sustainable development were the national strategic priorities. Programmes on environment friendly farming have been in detail elaborated and carried out in EU member countries for long time, and the introduction of the programme of this kind in Croatia was also important for its bids to adjust the national legislation to EU standards, the minister said. The POP pilot programme for Croatia was presented on Tuesday's symposium. It has been for two years carried out in the country by the association called Ekologija, the Dutch foundation Avalon and the British institute for European environmental protection policy, with financial assistance of the Dutch government. (Hina) ms sb