CONFECTIONERY MAKER KRAS' PLANTATION IN E.CROATIA CLEARED OF MINES

( Editorial: --> 7871 ) OSIJEK, July 15 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa and associates were on Wednesday acquainted with the results of mine clearing at an eastern Croatian plantation of confectionery maker "Kras". The plantation, located on a former frontline east of Osijek, is intended for making high-quality fruit seedlings and will employ 50 workers. Over 70 working days 48 members of Croatian special police mine- cleared 1,200 square metres on the plantation and discovered and destroyed 115 antipersonnel and 121 anti-tank mines. The Premier said that mine-clearing in Croatia would, unfortunately, take long. The Government estimates that the former Yugoslav People's Army and Serb paramilitary units planted mines across about five per cent of Croatian territory. It is estimated their discovery and destruction will take US$1.4 billion and five to six years. "But we shall succeed", Matesa said. Parliament vice president Vladimir Seks regretted that "representatives of the international community who stayed in Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Srijem Counties (eastern Croatia) did not do anything as concerns mine-clearing." The head of the "Kras" administration Boris Marcac thanked "everyone who assisted in clearing the plantation of mines." "Kras" took part in the mine-clearing as well. (hina) ha jn 151905 MET jul 98