HEAD OF STATE PAYS WORKING VISIT TO SPLIT

SPLIT, March 5 (Hina) - President Stjepan Mesic on Wednesday paid a working visit Split where he met local officials and discussed the history of this 1700 years old coastal city in southern Croatia, efforts invested in the preservation of the Diocletian Palace, as well as new development projects. #L# Mesic voiced confidence Dalmatia did not have to be concerned about tourism due to the Iraqi crisis because, in his opinion, the crisis would not affect the arrival of tourists in Croatia. Speaking about the navigation of tankers with hazardous cargo along the Adriatic, Mesic said the issue could be solved by establishing control mechanism. "The easiest way is to oppose the Omisalj and Druzba Adria project, but if we fail to accept and support the project of oil transport, it will immediately be accepted by Italy's Trieste, for example, and tankers will navigate along the Adriatic anyway, but they will no longer be under our supervision," the head of state said. Mesic also advocated an agreement with Italy on proclaiming an economic belt on the Adriatic. (hina) it sb