CROATIA IS A VERY SAFE COUNTRY - INTERIOR MINISTER

ZAGREB, Feb 19 (Hina) - The number of committed criminal offenses in Croatia has decreased last year in relation to the year 1995, Croatian Interior Minister Ivan Penic said after having visited all police stations. Croatia was a very safe country, Penic said. In comparison with 1995, the number of registered criminal offenses last year has decreased by 7.38 percent (dropping from 54,690 to 50,931). The number of murders decreased by 26.51 percent (from 166 to 122 cases); the number of attempted murders decreased by 19.65 percent (dropping from 229 to 184 cases); number of violations against property was less in 1996 than in 1995 by 12.44 percent (from 33,325 to 29,181 cases); the number of persons killed in traffic decreased from 800 to 721. Penic expressed satisfaction with the trend, adding that there was no similar example in any country in transition, even in west European countries. The priority of the Interior Ministry this year would be the establishment of the constitutional and legal order in the Croatian Danubian area, Penic said. About 600 Croatian police officers were a part of the Transitional Police, Penic said. He said that Croatia was competing to host the regional Interpol conference. (hina) lm jn 191639 MET feb 97