TUDJMAN RECEIVES INTERIOR MINISTRY DELEGATION

ZAGREB, Sept 27 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Friday received an Interior Ministry delegation on the occasion of the Day of St Michael, the patron saint of police officers. Interior Minister Ivan Jarnjak recalled that 529 police officers had been killed during the war, 116 had gone missing, while more than 3,800 were disabled. Jarnjak said that 93,000 criminal offences were registered in 1992 and that last year that number was reduced by a third. A further decrease of 1.5 percent was recorded in 1996, he added. "We're particulary glad that there has been a drop in the number of the gravest criminal offences such as killings, robberies and cases of planted explosive devices," Jarnjak said, warning that white-collar crime was on the increase. Tudjman recalled that in the last six years the Croatian police had played an important role in the establishment and defence of the independent and democratic state. He added that Interior Ministry forces provided a foundation for the creation of the Croatian armed forces. Speaking of the peaceful reintegration of Serb-held eastern Croatia, Tudjman said: "We must prepare to establish in the most efficient way the Croatian constitutional and legal system in Eastern Slavonia, Western Srijem and Baranja, and this is one of the most important tasks you will be faced with." "Thanks to your efforts, Croatian towns are safer than some Europen capitals and the tourist season has passed without any incident," he added. Tudjman said that the technical equipment of the police force was not adequate and that their salaries were not satisfactory, but called for reduced spending in all areas of police work. "An efficient Interior Ministry guarantees a country's safety," Tudjman said. (hina) vm 272129 MET sep 96