EUROPEAN INTERPOL CONFERENCE COMMENCES IN DUBROVNIK

( Editorial: --> 3542 ) DUBROVNIK, May 13 (Hina) - The 27th European Regional Conference of Interpol commenced on Wednesday in Cavtat, southern Croatia, and was opened by Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa. The conference, organised by the Croatian Interior Ministry, will run until May 15 and will be attended by 150 delegates from 44 countries, as well as eight delegations of monitoring countries. Also present at the opening, among participants and guests, were Croatian Minister for European Integrations Ljerka Mintas-Hodak and head of the Office for National Security Ivan Jarnjak. Opening the conference, Premier Matesa said that the Croatian Government delegation had come to give support to the institution of Interpol because it is important to the overall viability of the new world order. "Your work is reflected on the security situation in the whole of Europe, and naturally in Croatia too, (but) globalisation in the world has its dark side - globalisation of crime - and only one such institution can fight it," said Matesa. "In the last five years since it's been a member of Interpol, Croatia has tried most efficaciously to fight all forms of crime," said Croatian Interior Minister Ivan Penic. "We hold a realistic view that the Republic of Croatia is a state with a high level of security for its people, which is of exceptional importance to its future, particularly in the development of tourism," said Penic. Expressing satisfaction that the conference is being held in Dubrovnik and Croatia, Interpol's General-Secretary Raymond Kendall said this is proof of Croatia's political will to be included in the prevention of crime. Kendall said that an effort to establish contact with the international forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina will soon be made so that all forms of crime could be efficaciously fought in that country. Following the opening, Minister Penic told journalists that the conference would discuss all types of crime, but especially the drug problem. "The main objective of the conference is to agree on how to more tightly cooperate in fighting crime, and we will also discuss the use of new technology," said Penic, adding Croatia will fight against all forms of crime, especially terrorism. Penic has also introduced an Interior Ministry WEB page on the Internet where all significant information about the Ministry can be found. (hina) mrb/ha 131428 MET may 98