AMBASSADOR ROSSIN MEETS ZADAR ARCHBISHOP

ZADAR, April 17 (Hina) - US Ambassador Lawrence Rossin on Wednesday spoke with Zadar Archbishop, vice-president of the Croatian Bishops' Conference and president of Caritas Croatia, Msgr. Ivan Prendja. The talks focused on aid and improvements to living conditions in areas of special state concern. #L# Ambassador Rossin stressed that it was necessary to focus on the future of people in areas of special state concern and give the same amount of care to all ethnic groups. Life can be improved only if local authorities are prepared for this, and that factor varies from municipality to municipality, he said. Some municipalities obstruct plans, the ambassador said, mentioning the situation in Gracac. The local authorities there were inviting Croats from Drvar to settle and offering them Serb houses, which he said was a classic example of obstruction. Archbishop Prendja informed the Ambassador of the Church's stand that private property is the owners' guaranteed right. The Church advocates peace and promotes forgiveness, the Archbishop said, reminding that Caritas Croatia donated one hundred bikes to Serb Orthodox children in the Banovina region. Rossin also met with Zadar County Prefect Sime Prtenjaca, with whom he spoke about development plans for Zadar County. The US ambassador also met Deputy Zadar Mayor Ana Lovrin. During the talks with Prefect Prtenjaca, Ambassador Rossin said that the USA would continue to provide assistance in mine-clearing activities in Croatia, including Zadar County. Rossin explained that development for Zadar lay in tourism, adding that US investments into Croatia could be higher were it not for administrative barriers. Ambassador Rossin also visited the Croatian Naval College in Zemunik near Zadar. (hina) sp sb