CROATIAN PM, CATHOLIC CHURCH PRIMATE HOLD TALKS

ZAGREB, May 23 (Hina) - Preparations for the pope's upcoming visit to Croatia are proceeding according to plan, Prime Minister Ivica Racan and the primate of the Catholic Church in Croatia, Zagreb Archbishop Josip Bozanic, assessed at a meeting on Friday. #L# Also present at the meeting at the Croatian Bishops Conference (HBK) were deputy PM and chairman of the government's commission for relations with religious communities Goran Granic, deputy PM Slavko Linic, parliament vice president Mato Arlovic, and HBK secretary-general Vjekoslav Huzjak. Talks also addressed the implementation of Croatia-Holy See agreements, with special emphasis on the restitution of Catholic Church property which was seized during the Yugoslav communist rule, the Catholic News Agency (IKA) reported. Granic told reporters today's meeting was a regular working meeting at which it was concluded that "we are ready to welcome the Holy Father, while other issues are resolved in the way it has been agreed on". He added "both sides are pleased things are going well". The talks also touched upon overall relations and the restitution of Church property, Granic said, stating that both sides were serious about it and were seriously working on it. Asked if the talks addressed Catholic Church legal persons which are to be entered into evidence by the end of June, Granic said this issue would be resolved. He added there had been no mention of a campaign launched to ban shops from working on Sundays and holidays, IKA reported. (hina) ha sb