CROATIA TO STEP UP SECURITY MEASURES FOR COMING TOURIST SEASON

SPLIT, March 25 (Hina) - The security situation in Croatia was good, and police experts from Europe and the world agreed on this evaluation, a Croatian Deputy Interior Minister, Zlatko Gledec, said in Split on Tuesday when he attended a session on security measures for the following tourist season. Gledec showed some figures to confirm the claim that Croatia is a safe and secure country. The number of crimes has been decreasing since 1992, and it drops by 7.5 percent yearly, which is among best results in Europe. Furthermore, the crime detection rate is 75.2 percent. The crime rate upon 100,000 residents in Croatia was 1,317 criminal acts in 1995, when in Slovenia it was 1,993 and in Germany 8,180. In 1996, the rate upon 100,000 Croatians was 1,200 criminal acts, whereas in Austria it was 6,057, Gledec said. Croatia where tourist trade was very important, devoted special attention to safety and security of its guests and tourists, he added. "We are aware that only a satisfied and safe guest, who has never experienced inconvenience in our country, will come back," he said. That's why Croatia would step up security measures during the holiday season this year. The action, which is called "Turs" '97, began on Tuesday and would last by 22 October this year, he added. Gledec also said that special attention would be paid to security in traffic, where the situation was worrisome. Last year, 725 persons died in road accidents, and therefore a national traffic security programme has been made. Tourism ministry officials, representatives of four Croatian southern counties, and hotels managers attended the session in Split as well. (hina) jn mš 251448 MET mar 97