RACAN, SODANO SATISFIED WITH CROATIA-VATICAN COOPERATION, TIES

ROME, Nov 8 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan and the Vatican's Secretary of State Angelo Sodano held talks at the Vatican on Saturday, expressing satisfaction with the cooperation and relations between Croatia and the Holy See. #L# The talks did not address the restitution of Church property. Racan told Croatian reporters in Rome he had assured Sodano that Croatia-Holy See cooperation would remain successful regardless of who won parliamentary elections in Croatia later this month. Racan held talks with Sodano after being received by the pope, which prevented him from participating in an audience Croatian pilgrims were granted with John Paul II. The PM confirmed he did not attend mass which Croatian Cardinal Josip Bozanic celebrated at St. Peter's Basilica earlier today. As for his talks with the Holy Father, Racan said he reiterated his gratitude for the pope's third visit to Croatia this summer. Answering a question from the media, Racan said it had probably been a mistake not to send a Croatian state delegation to the celebration of 25 years of John Paul's pontificate. (hina) ha