BRIEF NEWS BULLETIN IN ENGLISH NO. 4862

HR-BULLETIN-Politika BRIEF NEWS BULLETIN IN ENGLISH NO. 4862 HINA Zagreb 12 January 2003DIPLOMAT: PRESIDENCY OF ECOSOC -TURNING POINT IN CROATIA'S POSITIONWASHINGTON, Jan 12 (Hina) - Croatia's chairmanship over the UN body - the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) - marked a turning point in the country's position in foreign affairs, and Croatia has become a partner in efforts aimed at solving global economic and social problems, said Croatian Ambassador to the United Nations, Ivan Simonovic, on the occasion of the end of the Croatian one-year presidency of the ECOSOC. The ECOSOC, one of the most important UN bodies, focuses on the promotion of the economic and social progress, cultural and scientific cooperation and human rights and freedoms. After completing successfully its task when presiding over the ECOSOC in 2002, Croatia officially applied for non-permanent membership into the UN Security Council in 2007. "Croatia has gained its international reputation and respect. Only when