CRO GOVT, UNTAES REPS HOLD TALKS ON PROTECTION OF CROPS IN DANUBE REGION

REGION ZAGREB, June 24 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croatian ministries of agriculture, the interior, finance, and defense, representatives of two eastern Croatian counties partly administered by UNTAES and agricultural enterprises, and representatives of UNTAES, on Tuesday held talks on the protection of crops in Croatia's UN-administered area. The reason for this meeting were reports on serious threats of deliberate burning of crops in the Danube region and its transport to Yugoslavia. The representatives of the Croatian ministries and enterprises demanded of the UN transitional administration to exercise strict control along Croatia's border with Yugoslavia, and to not permit requests that any goods be exported to Yugoslavia without required documents. Representatives of the Agriculture Ministry recalled that the Croatian Government organized and financed the sowing of wheat and other crops in the Croatian Danube region. They would request of the transitional administrator to issue special permits to people who shall be harvesting and for cars transporting crops. The commander of the transitional police in the Croatian Danube region, Ivan Babic, pointed out that all preparations for harvest protection had been made. For this, members of the transitional police and customs will be deployed at all border crossings in order to prevent illegal transport of wheat to Yugoslavia. (hina) ha jn 242333 MET jun 97