ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION MINISTER: CROATIA IS UP TO INT. STANDARDS

ZAGREB, Sept 16 (Hina) - On the occasion of the Ozone Layer Day, the Minister of Environment Protection and Zoning, Bozo Kovacevic, on Monday stated that he was satisfied because Croatia was achieving its objectives and was fulfilling obligations resulting from the Montreal Protocol. #L# Concrete projects that Croatia is conducting in the manufacturing processes are to withdraw matter that damages the ozone layer, Kovacevic said. The minister reminded that on this day in 1987, 22 countries signed an international agreement in Montreal entitled the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer. The Protocol, which has since been signed by 184 countries, controls about one hundred various substances that damage the ozone layer. Croatia is one countries with smaller consumption of the stuff detrimental to the ozone layer, and is therefore cited among the countries named in Article Five of the protocol with the time delay for the cessation of the consumption of such things, said an official of the environmental protection ministry. The official, Ana Mesic, said that in 1996 Croatia had adopted a national programme on the issue with measures for the gradual cessation of the consumption of the said substances, and in 1999 it adopted a decree on the issue. Krunoslav Premec from the State Weather Service has said that Croatia can speak about the so-called mini ozone holes which means that it is aware that there are cases when the ozone is being depleted but there are still no holes in the ozone. There have still not been complete inspections taken of the ozone above Croatia and only the lower ozone is measured. Data about the complete ozone require satellite data, Premec said. Each secondary and primary school in Croatia was sent a copy of a video cassette and booklet about the need to protect the ozone layer. (hina) sp ms sb