NO "MAD COW" CASES IN CROATIA - HEALTH MINISTER

ZAGREB, April 15 (Hina) - There are no cattle infected with "mad cow" disease in Croatia and no cattle are being imported from infected areas, Croatian Health Minister Andrija Hebrang told a press conference in Zagreb on Monday. There was no increased incidence of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease cases among people and not a single case had been recorded that would indicate that people infected with BSE virus had received it through consumption of beef, Hebrang said, adding that all beef on the Croatian market was edible because it had undergone all necessary control procedures. As soon as "mad cow" disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), appeared, the Croatian Ministry of Health banned the import of any beef products from Britain, following a ban on the import of cattle from that country already in effect. The same order had also been issued to county health and social welfare services to step up inspection of humanitarian aid deliveries. Hebrang stressed that Croatia had made every effort to protect itself from "mad cow" disease. Also at the press conference was Premier Zlatko Matesa who said that negotiations with the London Club would begin on April 18 and that their conclusion would signify complete financial independence of Croatia from the former Yugoslavia. Responding to questions on a decision by Rijeka customs authorities and financial police to fine the Rijeka-based newspaper "Novi List" for violating the customs law and failure to pay taxes, Matesa said that the case would be closely investigated and that his government supported freedom of the press. Matesa challenged "theories about a coalition or interim government", saying he saw no reason for his government to be reshuffled. (hina) ha mm 151726 MET apr 96