INSTITUTE 'RUDJER BOSKOVIC' MARKS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

ZAGREB, May 19 (Hina) - The Zagreb-based institute for science and scientific research "Rudjer Boskovic" this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, which will be marked throughout 2000. A programme marking half a century of the institute will include natural-science and philosophical panels, seminars and round tables on the institute and a commemoration, as well as the issuing of publications on the institute, including a monograph, and the making of short films. The head of the institute, Nikola Zovko, warned at Friday's news conference about the financial problems the institute was facing, primarily due to the difficult economic situation in the country and some of the existing laws, which reduced the number of scientists from public institutes who are working as university professors. Good basic sciences in Croatia enable good applied sciences, Zovko said, stressing economy was expected to demonstrate its interest and support in this field, whereas the Government was expected to recognise and use the institute's potential. Extending his best wishes to the institute's employees, Science and Technology Minister Hrvoje Kraljevic reminded that the authorities had committed themselves during the election campaign to a better relationship toward science, including the largest Croatian institute. Those promises will be possible to fulfil as soon as the overall situation in the country improves, Kraljevic added. He announced that scientific institutions could soon expect the Science Ministry to pay its debts for material expenses and scientific projects in the form of bills which would have to be paid immediately. (hina) rml