MINISTER KOVACEVIC ON MILITARY MANOEUVRES AND ENVIRONMENT

ZAGREB, April 4 (Hina) - Croatian Environmental Protection and Urban Planning Minister Bozo Kovacevic on Wednesday said that joint crews of his and the Defence Ministry would determine the state of environment in the central Croatian town of Slunj before and after Croatian-American military manoeuvres. Kovacevic said this would be done at the request of the Ministry for Environmental Protection and Urban Planning, which the Croatian government adopted. According to the announcements, the next military manoeuvre should be held this month after which experts will make a study on its impact on the environment. According to Minister Kovacevic, the United States guaranteed that munitions with depleted uranium will not be used during the manoeuvre in Slunj. The Croatian Defence Ministry guaranteed that aircraft would not fly over the Plitvice Lakes National Park. The military manoeuvres in Slunj are the result of an agreement on bilateral cooperation between the Croatian and United States governments. Two military manoeuvres have already been held in Slunj. During the press conference, Kovacevic also addressed the issue illegal trade of date-shells. In line with a law on sea fishing, catching date-shells is prohibited in Croatia in order to protect cliff-studded coast. The Minister announced harsh measures against date-shell pouching. (hina) it sb