NEW DNA LABORATORIES TO BE OPENED TO QUICKEN IDENTIFICATIONS

( Editorial: --> 3738 ) ZAGREB, June 25 (Hina) - Two new laboratories for DNA identification will be opened in Croatia during the next few months in order to quicken identification of exhumed victims of Serbian aggression. The new laboratories will be opened in Split (southern Croatia) and Osijek (eastern Croatia), Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Kostovic announced on Thursday. Only one such laboratory currently exists in Croatia, in the capital Zagreb. Kostovic, who is leading the exhumation and identification process, met in Zagreb on Thursday with chiefs of the American firm Perkin-Elmer, from whom the Government will buy identification equipment. Since the beginning of identification by the DNA method early last year, more than 100 victims have been identified, considerably above the international average, said Milovan Kubat, coordinator of the DNA identification programme. He said equipping the Split and Osijek laboratories would cost about US$300,000 which will be provided by Croatian Ministries of Defence and Science. Perkin-Elmer produces sophisticated equipment of high quality. Three years ago it donated identification equipment to Croatia. Now the company, besides equipping the aforementioned DNA laboratories, is interested in selling high technology to Croatian companies, Kostovic said. (Hina) mbr jn /mro 252108 MET jun 98