NO SECURITY FEARS FOR TOURIST IN CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 8064 ) POREC, June 1 (Hina) - Interior Minister Ivan Penic and Tourism Minister Sergej Morsan Monday met with representatives from Istra County and regional tourism workers to discuss security in the coming season. This year we expect about six million tourists, said Morsan, emphasising that security is one of the key factors to a successful tourist season. Security is the "sacred category" of tourism, he added and thanked the Interior Ministry for last year's contribution to a safe tourist season. Interior Minister Ivan Penic said the security situation in Croatia is good. The police will react to all criminal activities, especially disturbances of public order and peace and vandalism detrimental to the renown of Croatian tourism. Penic promised the Interior Ministry would take such good care of security that tourist companies would not need to employ any extra security. Assistant Tourism Minister Josko Moric spoke about Tours '98, a campaign already engaged in preparations for this year's tourist season. Moric said the ministries of the interior, tourism, economy and finance are already co-operating successfully, with assistance from the Slovene and Hungarian Interior Ministries, in particular in mutual reporting on the traffic situation. The Interior Ministry continues to dedicate special attention to the security situation in previously Serb-occupied counties, as any possible incident in these areas has a negative effect in the promotion of Croatian tourism. Croatia will as of this year also fully control its part of the Adriatic Sea, Moric said, adding extreme measures of protection against fires. In cooperation with the Finance Ministry, the Interior Ministry has improved control at the borders, and by "dosing" security measures the police guarantee a high level of security without being "overly exposed". (hina)dgr/ha 011704 MET jun 98