MINISTER KOVACEVIC, AMERICAN FARMERS ON GMO

ZAGREB, Jan 14 (Hina) - Croatian Environmental Protection and Zoning Minister Bozo Kovacevic said on Monday Croatia would continue to implement the parliament's decision, dating 1998, and prohibit the production and use of the genetically modified organisms (GMO), and that a bill which should regulate this issue would soon be forwarded to the government. Kovacevic gave this statement after talks with U.S. farmers who shared negative experience and harmful consequences regarding the genetically modified crop. U.S. farmers shared their experience with farmers from the northern Croatian town of Bjelovar. Commenting on media headlines on the conflict between the Croatian and the U.S. government about Croatia's attitude towards GMO and alleged American threats to impose World Trade Organisation (WTO) sanctions against Croatia, Kovacevic said Croatia was not getting in a conflict with anyone, it was rather trying, based on the parliament's decision, to define a legal framework and secure recognition for Croatia as a country free of GMO. Apart from Croatia, GMO is prohibited in Switzerland, Slovenia, Slovakia and Austria. (hina) it sb