ACTIVITIES IN FIGHT AGAINST SLAVE TRADE SHOULD BE CO-ORDINATED IN REGION

ZAGREB, July 13 (Hina) - Croatia can assume a leading role in the struggle against slave trade and host an international conference about this problem in south eastern Europe, said Helga Konrad, the head of the Stability Pact's task force for the fight against slave trade. During my meeting with Croatian officials on Thursday I presented an idea which the Croatian Government may possibly accept. The idea is that Croatia should assume a leading role in the fight against slave trade and that it host an international inter-governmental conference for south eastern Europe, Konrad said in Zagreb. On Thursday morning she held talks with Deputy Justice Minister Ranko Marjan and parliamentarians. Besides, she is to hold talks at Interior and Foreign Ministries. Such a conference will draw south eastern European countries' officials and the event will be scheduled for autumn, perhaps October, Konrad explained. According to her, the conference could help initiate some concrete steps which should be taken in enabling the countries in the region to co-ordinate their activities better in this field. Asked about Croatia's position in this problem, Helga Konrad answered that she believed that Croatia was a transit country for slave trade and human beings' smuggling. (hina) mm ms