ASSOCIATION FOR PROTECTION OF PLITIVICE LAKES SENDS OPEN LETTER TO GOVT AND PARLIAMENT

ZAGREB, Dec 2 (Hina) - The association for the protection of the Plitvice Lakes o Friday pointed to a disturbing situation in the national park, adding that the park was not function in a single segment of its activities. The government and parliament must re-consider the status of the Plitvice lakes if it wishes to prevent the uncontrollable and inefficient tourist exploitation, read a statement issues by the association for the protection of the Plitivice Lakes The association claims that in the past 100 years, no government has been so irresponsible toward the Plitvice Lakes as it was the case in the past 5 years. For now, there is no signs of improvement, the association added. The association stressed that an ecological disaster and economic breakdown threatened to take place. They reminded that the park suffered financial damage during the occupation between 1991 and 1995 amounting to about 216 million kuna. Furthermore, the association said that after the military-police operation of Storm in 1995, the government financed the "reconstruction" of hotels and approved the demolishing of several tourist buildings. The association also stressed that competent ministries refused all forms of cooperation with them. The association will soon be forced to internationalise the Plitvice case, namely it will be forced to present the case to the UNESCO, the international union for the protection of natural resources, and the European federation of national parks. (hina) it