CRO UPPER HOUSE DISCUSSES ISLAND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

ZAGREB, Feb 20 (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament's House of Counties on Thursday discussed the Proposal for a National Programme for the Development of Islands. The National Programme was a long-term plan of gradual measures to signify the state's permanent care for the islands, Croatian Development and Reconstruction Minister Jure Radic said and stressed that for decades there had been no investing in the islands. The aim of the Programme was to stimulate island population not to leave and a deliberate settlement of the islands, measures which would bring young and skilled personnel to the islands, tax and tariff concessions which would attract investors and stimulate the economy, a precise plan for the building of infrastructure, Radic explained, and added that special stress was placed on ensuring quick connections with the mainland, which would require the reconstruction of old and the building of new harbours and the acquisition of fast ships. Radic cited many problems regarding Croatian islands, especially the disastrous demographic situation. In 220 out of a total of 303 island villages, the death rate was in the last decade higher than the birth rate, with no births at all in 65 villages. There are 1.185 islands in Croatia, of which 389 were reefs and 78 cliffs, Radic said and added that islands accounted for 5.8 per cent of Croatian land, but with the surrounding sea made for 37 per cent of Croatia's territory. 69.5 per cent of all Croatian coast belonged to the islands, the Minister concluded. (hina) ha mm 201423 MET feb 97