GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHES OFFICE FOR EUROPEAN INTEGRATIONS

( Editorial: --> 4193 ) ZAGREB, Apr 2 (Hina) - The Croatian government Thursday passed a regulation for the establishment of an office for European integrations and a decision on the establishment of a coordination for European integrations. According to Croatian Minister for European Integrations Ljerka Mintas-Hodak, the aim of the office is to prepare all activities concerning Croatia's access to European integrations, and adjust Croatian legislation to that of European countries. At today's session the government forwarded to parliament a bill ratifying an agreement between Croatia and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on a loan for a market-halls project. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Zlatko Dominikovic recalled that the said agreement was signed December 8, 1997, adding that the DM35.5 million loan would be used for building market-halls in Osijek, Split, Rijeka, Benkovac and Metkovic. Croatia has been an EBRD member since April 15, 1993 and signed to date 20 agreements on various loans whose total worth slightly exceeds US$434 million. The Croatian government gave about US$2 million of collaterals to the national parks Krka, the Brijuni Isles, Paklenica and Kornati, a decision especially welcomed by Tourism Minister Sergej Morsan, who pointed out that national parks were a significant attraction of Croatian tourism. The government also okayed that the northern port of Rijeka host the 15th Mediterranean Games in 2005, and accepted a proposal by the Zagreb Baseball Club that the European championship cup be held in Zagreb and Karlovac. Also forwarded into parliamentary procedure was a bill on the ratification of a social insurance agreement between Croatia and Germany. (hina) ha 021514 MET apr 98