PRESIDENT MESIC PUTS GOLA GAS FIELD INTO OPERATION

GOLA, May 27 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic on Saturday opened the Croatian Oil Industry's (INA) gas-condensate field Gola within his visit to Koprivnica-Krizevci County. The field will help increase Ina's annual gas production by 85 million cubic metres of gas and 40,000 tonnes of benzene, ethane and liquid gas condensates, worth about 20 million US dollars. Ina general director Tomislav Dragicevic said the Gola project was integrated into an already completed project in the Podravina region, which included gas-condensate fields Stari Gradac, Kalinovac and Molve. Ina's executive director in charge of research and oil and gas production, Zeljko Belosevic, informed President Mesic that special attention was paid to environmental protection and the Gola field was integrated into the existing system of gas purification at the Molve gas stations, where most modern European and world technologies were applied. Mesic said the opening of the Gola gas-condensate field was the best possible way for Ina to offer its wishes to Croatia for Statehood Day. This venture also shows that we must use our own human resources and knowledge, Mesic said, adding Croatia had to combine its natural resources and fresh capital in the form of direct investments. "If we are known for investment safety and our compatibility with the European community, we won't have any problems in the future," Mesic said, adding the Government had to present a strategy of development of all resources. As part of his visit to Koprivnica-Krizevci County, President Mesic also visited naive painter Ivan Vecenaj at Vecenaj's home in Gola. Vecenaj gave Mesic a portfolio with 37 original graphics at the Hlebine Gallery, which is hosting an exhibition staged on the occasion of Vecenaj's 80th birthday. (hina) rml