CRO GOVT TAKES DECISIVE STEPS IN FIGHTING BRIBES, CORRUPTION

ZAGREB, Sept 16 (Hina) - The Croatian government has begun a determined battle against corruption and other forms of crime, the head of the National Security Bureau, Ivan Jarnjak, told reporters in Zagreb on Tuesday. An investigation has to this effect been launched against assistant Economy Minister and head of the State Commodity Stockpiles Administration Petar Petric and his assistant Sreten Juric, on account of founded suspicions that they had accepted a DM 150,000 bribe, Jarnjak said. The Croatian President's advisor for interior policy, Ivic Pasalic, and ministers of the interior and of economy Ivan Penic and Nenad Porges, also spoke about fighting crime. All authorized services and officials engaged in protection and control have been included in the battle against bribery and corruption, Jarnjak said, adding world experience is being used. He called on Croatian citizens to assist the police by reporting on such acts. This is not a short term campaign aimed at achieving short term political goals, said Pasalic. "This is not throwing dust in the eyes of the public", he pointed out, adding fighting crime has become the government's top priority. The Interior Ministry uncovered all illegal activities through the Interior Control Office, said Interior Minister Penic, adding a considerable number of policemen were fired because of illegal activities, including taking bribes. Answering questions on a case of corruption in the State Commodity Stockpiles Administration, Jarnjak confirmed that the director of trading company Zagrepcanka, Milan Brezak, who bribed the Stockpiles Administration's head, Petric, had been cleared of responsibility for giving bribes, after assisting the police. Answering questions on Petric, Economy Minister Porges said Petric was part of a structure inherited from the former system. Commodities which came out of the Commodity Stockpiles were worth seven million kunas, the minister said, adding Zagrepcanka had the obligation to return these commodities, to which the State Commodity Stockpiles Administration should have seen to. Economy Ministry staff suspects have been suspended until the completion of investigation, Porges said and announced staff changes in the ministry. (hina) ha jn 161920 MET sep 97