GOVT WILL CHANGE CONTENTIOUS PROVISION ON OIL PRODUCTS TRANSIT

ZAGREB, Jan 18 (Hina) - Premier Ivica Racan on Friday announced the government will change the regulation prohibiting the transit of oil and oil products by cisterns through Croatia. The Croatian government will re-examine and update the regulations so to establish a stricter control of the transit through Croatia, whether that be for a domestic or foreign transporter, with the aim of a more efficient battle against crime and environmental protection, Racan said. He announced a meeting on Monday at a level of experts from Slovenia and Bosnia, on measures Croatia intends to undertake and on which it expects cooperation with neighbouring countries. Amendments to the regulation will be on the government's session agenda January 24. The session should establish complex measures for intensifying the battle with crime, as well as amendments to a law which would step up the sanctions, Racan said. He could not, however, say what will happen with the regulation in dispute the meantime, that is, after today's meeting and until the amendments to the regulation. There is no reason for not implementing the regulation in its entirety; Racan said, and added cisterns could take part in traffic under police surveillance. Amendments to the regulation on the transport of dangerous substances in roads traffic, by which the transit of oil and oil products is allowed only by oil pipelines, railways, and navigation routes, went into force January 16. (hina) np sb