CROATIAN SCIENCE MINISTER: SCIENCE A PRIORITY IN STATE BUDGET

( Editorial: --> 0537 ) ZAGREB, 9 Feb (Hina) - Following the war, providing care for displaced persons and refugees, science is now definitely one of the priorities in the state budget, said Croatian Science Minister Ivica Kostovic. On Monday he gave journalists a report on the implementation of the national science research program, which the government has forwarded to the Croatian National Parliament for discussion. The report (for the 1996-1998 period) brings information clearly stating who is working on what, as well as what is financed by the state budget, said Kostovic. All projects, for the first time, have passed the judgement procedure. In the judgement process about 1,300 people took part while the program included about 8,000 scientists and researchers, said Kostovic. According to the information in the report, 854 projects were agreed (for which the Ministry secured more than DM 158 million), while 37 projects were co-financed (DM 11 million coming from co- financers). Following discussion of the report the Parliament will give a science budget for the next period. (hina) jn mrb 091714 MET feb 98