CROATIA NEEDS WORLD BANK ASSISTANCE FOR ENVIRONMETAL PROTECTION

( Editorial: --> 5969 ) ZAGREB, 2 March (Hina) - The head of the State Environmental Protection Board, Ante Kutle, met with World Bank representative John Fraser Stewart on Monday, whom he informed about the most important problems in the area of environmental protection in Croatia. Stewart is a member of the World Bank working group in charge of nature and environment, which is preparing a strategy for assisting Croatia in the protection of environment. The World Bank is following and financially supporting the drawing- up of Croatia's national strategy and action plan for environmental protection and has so far invested US$102 million for that purpose, said Kutle. Croatia needs considerable investments for environmental protection, he added. The completion of the national strategy would require another US$500,000 and Croatia expects further financial aid from the World Bank, Kutle said. John Fraser Stewart will stay in Croatia until 7 March and is expected to meet experts and representatives of non-government organisations for environmental protection. (hina) mm rm/mrb 021340 MET mar 98