CROATIA SUPPORTS BAN ON ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES

ZAGREB, Aug 29 (Hina) - Croatia supports the concept of a total ban on anti-personnel mines which about 100 countries are to discuss at a diplomatic conference in Oslo between 1 and 19 September, Croatia's Science and Technology Minister Ivica Kostovic told the head of ICRC's office in Zagreb, Isabelle Butticatz, on Friday. Croatia will attend the conference in Oslo with a three- member delegation headed by the head of the Foreign Ministry's Department for Peace and Security, Ranko Vilovic. In April 1996, Croatia signed a moratorium on the manufacture, use, transport and storing of anti-personnel mines. Throughout 1996 and 1997, representatives of Croatia took part in all five preliminary meetings of the "Ottawa process", which should be rounded up with the signing of an agreement on a total ban of anti-personnel mines in December. (hina) ha jn 291851 MET aug 97