MINISTER PENIC PROMOTES CROATIAN POLICEMAN IN DANUBIAN AREA

ZAGREB, Jan 30 (Hina) - Croatian Minister of Interior Affairs, Ivan Penic, on Thursday promoted a policeman, Boris Bacak, to a higher- ranking policeman and presented him with a pistol, for his successful performance of policemen's duties in the Croatian Danubian area. At the beginning of this year, during his tour of the Danubian area, Minister Penic noticed the exceptional conduct of Croatian policemen serving with the transitional police in the area. Penic met Boris Bacak twice, at Knezevo and Batina, while he was visiting the area. Bacak, policemen of Split, is temporarily deployed at the border police station in Beli Manastir. Minister Penic was greatly impressed by the behaviour of Bacak. He said that Bacak's promotion set an example to other Croatian policemen to endure all temptations and maintain their calmness, which is needed for the completion of the process of reintegration. "It was not easy, particularly in the beginning when we moved among the local population who immediately recognized us as Croats," Bacak said. (hina) mm mš 302007 MET jan 97