CROATIAN EXPERTS MANAGE DEVELOPMENT OF MEDITERRANEAN

SPLIT, Feb 23 (Hina) - Through its Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), the United Nations have entrusted Croatian experts at the Regional Activities Centre in Split to manage the development of the Mediterranean. Within the Programme of Priority Actions (PPA), the Centre manages the coastal area of the Mediterranean with the aim of protecting the environment and sustainable development. #L# Director of the Centre for the PPA in Split, Petar Reic, said that the Centre had been flourishing the last several years since it was in charge of drawing up projects for the overall management of the Mediterranean coastal area. At the moment, the Centre was engaged in management projects for Jerusalem in Israel, the Fuqua bay in Egypt, Albania, Tunisia…, Reic said, adding that, taking into consideration all segments, they were making scientific estimates what would prosper best in these areas, including tourism development projects. The Centre has earned a very good reputation in the world with a number of previously drawn up projects, such as the projects of managing the Syria coast, Ismir area in Turkey, water resources on the island of Malta, a project for the island of Rodos in Greece, Kastelan bay in Croatia and so on. All the projects were done with the cooperation of primarily Croatian universities and science institutions, Reic said. The PPA Centre in Croatia cooperates with almost all UN agencies, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNDP, UNESCO, World Health Organization, World Bank, European Investment Bank, Mediterranean countries' governments etc. The Centre is to become a Croatian institution which is to work for the international community in the Mediterranean within the framework of Croatian laws. The Centre is financed by the international community, but Croatia also participates in its budget with about US$ 150,000 annually. (hina) lm 231227 MET feb 97