ZAGREB, Aug 31 (Hina) - The Croatian Government on Thursday assessed that the last two weeks had been most difficult regarding wildfires, and decided to give a grant-in-aid, worth 6.5 million kuna (over 1.6 million German marks), to
counties which were badly stricken by blazes. The Government was notified of damage caused by this year's drought. According first estimates, the damage, done since the beginning of this year, exceeds two billion kuna (500 million German marks). This amount is likely to be higher, as some counties have not yet forwarded relevant data and the drought and fires are still threatening. Out of 21 Croatian counties, 11 have so far been declared disaster areas because of the drought. Long unfavourable climatic conditions have lessened the crop yields by 30 to 70 percent, Agriculture Minister Bozidar Pankretic reported. According to estimates issued by the Agriculture Minist
ZAGREB, Aug 31 (Hina) - The Croatian Government on Thursday
assessed that the last two weeks had been most difficult regarding
wildfires, and decided to give a grant-in-aid, worth 6.5 million
kuna (over 1.6 million German marks), to counties which were badly
stricken by blazes.
The Government was notified of damage caused by this year's
drought.
According first estimates, the damage, done since the beginning of
this year, exceeds two billion kuna (500 million German marks).
This amount is likely to be higher, as some counties have not yet
forwarded relevant data and the drought and fires are still
threatening. Out of 21 Croatian counties, 11 have so far been
declared disaster areas because of the drought.
Long unfavourable climatic conditions have lessened the crop
yields by 30 to 70 percent, Agriculture Minister Bozidar Pankretic
reported.
According to estimates issued by the Agriculture Ministry, the
drought has caused damage over 1.7 billion kuna (425 million DM).
Istria County is the hardest-hit area with the damage of 230 million
kuna (some 57 million marks). It is followed by Vukovar-Sirmium
County (damage is likely to be 48 million DM), Virovitica-Podravina
(approximately 44 million DM), Varazdin County (38 million DM),
Slavonski Brod-Posavina (34.5 million DM) and Osijek-Baranja (33
million DM).
Besides, there is also damage of over 109 million kuna (27.25
million DM) due to hailstorms.
Considering fires, most counties are still processing data on this
matter. Available data for two counties show that the damage has
been there about 13 million kuna (3.25 million DM).
Interior Minister Sime Lucin told the Government that Thursday saw
nine active blazes and he added that the situation had been improved
in recent days.
According to a report compiled by the Interior Ministry, from 21 to
27 August, 330 fires ignited and of them, 283 broke out in the open.
The material damage is assessed to some 70.8 million kuna (17.7
million DM). Charges were pressed for three cases of arson. Of
persons suspected to have set fires deliberately, only one was a
Serb, Minister Lucin said responding to rumours that Croatia was
faced with terrorist attacks on a larger scale.
He added that the fight against blazes in recent weeks had shown
that it would be necessary to co-ordinate such efforts from one
headquarters.
Of the 6.5-million-kuna-worth grant-in-aid for the fire-hit areas,
1.5 million kuna will be given to each of Dubrovnik-Neretva, Split-
Dalmatia and Sibenik-Knin County. Zadar and Lika-Senj Counties
each will get one million kuna.
The Government forwarded into an urgent parliamentary procedure a
draft act on ratification of the penal convention on corruption.
This convention defines notions of active and passive corruption,
bribery of foreign officials, corruption in procedures for being
given some businesses and jobs, the links between corruption and
money laundering. The document also provides for the set-up of
units in charge of fighting this evil, protection of witnesses and
international co-operation in this filed.
The Government decided to sell 34.77 percent of shares of the
factory of gas turbines in Karlovac. The nominal value of these
25,108 shares is 10 million kuna (2.5 million DM). The condition
which buyers should fulfil is to settle the company's outstanding
debts in a short period and this refers to the payment of back
salaries worth 2.3 million kuna to employees and settle obligations
(55.7 million kuna) to creditors.
(hina) jn ms