CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY PROTESTS TO ITALIAN EMBASSY

ZAGREB/ROME, Feb 28 (Hina) - The Croatian Foreign Ministry today forwarded a protest note to the Italian embassy in Zagreb over the treatment inflicted on Croatian Science and Technology Minister, Branko Jeren, by Italian border police at the Casa Rosa border crossing. A Croatian delegation, which also included a Ministry secretary, Nikola Ruzinski, and an embassy official, Branko Cecuk, was travelling to Gorizia to attend a two-day panel on "New Companies for New International Market," organised by the Italian Foreign Trade Ministry. Despite the fact that the delegation members had valid passports, they were not allowed to proceed by financial police, who insisted on searching their car, enquired about the amount of foreign currency they were carrying and held Minister Jeren 44 minutes at the police station. After that, financial police allowed the delegation to proceed, but they decided to return to Zagreb. Minister Jeren wrote to his host, Italian Foreign Trade MInister Mario D'Urso, to explain why he did not appear at the Gorizia panel. The incident was criticised in the Italian press. (hina) jn as 281624 MET feb 95