CRO INTERIOR MINISTER OPENS INT CONFERENCE ON FIGHTING CRIME

BRIJUNI, Oct 5 (Hina) - Croatian Interior Minister Ivan Penic opened a three-day international conference on fighting organized crime on the Brijuni Isles on Sunday. Organized by the Croatian Ministry of the Interior and the Hans Seidel Foundation from Zagreb, the conference gathers about 50 interior ministry representatives from Bavaria, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria and Croatia. Penic pointed out the defense of territorial integrity and sovereignty, the security of Croatian borders from Prevlaka (southern-most tip bordering with Montenegro) to the Danube river (eastern border with Yugoslavia), as well as the struggle against terrorism and organized crime are the fundamental directives under which the Croatian Interior Ministry judges the security situation in the country and steers its activities. "There is not one form of criminal activity that is not under control and that we do not fight against", Minister Penic said, adding the Croatian Interior Ministry "aims its entire power and will at uncovering criminal activities and every form of misuse, in order to ensure the legal security of citizens and entrepreneurship." The police take all steps in line with norms of the democratic system and basic principles regarded as standard around the world, the minister said. In defending Croatia's borders from smugglers, it is important to have joint border protection with polices of neighbouring countries based on mutual trust, Penic stressed. Speaking about illegal drug traffic, Croatia's interior minister pointed out that two successful drug confiscation actions had been undertaken through exceptional cooperation with the Italian police and the Interpol. Penic also spoke about the good security situation all over the Croatian Adriatic coast during this year's tourist season, when not one serious incident took place. (hina) ha 051451 MET oct 97