PRESIDENT MESIC ENDS VISIT TO RUSSIA

MOSCOW, April 18 (Hina) - Describing the talks he held during his three-day trip to Russia, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said they were important, the most important having been the three-hour meeting with President Vladimir Putin. #L# He reminded reporters the talks with his Russian counterpart tackled global and regional subjects and concrete issues of Croatian-Russian cooperation. Mesic reiterated he invited Putin to officially visit Croatia, and if that were impossible to organise, to do so at least unofficially, which he said Putin gladly accepted. Asked about his meeting with Moscow and Russia Patriarch Alexei II, Mesic said they talked about religious communities and how they are legally regulated in Croatia, as well as the establishment of peace and tolerance amongst people. Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said the talks he held at the Russian Foreign Ministry focused on issues whereby Croatia and Russia can jointly support stabilisation and improve cooperation in some parts of Europe, including the Southeast. Picula told reporters he invited Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov to visit Croatia and was confident the visit would take place soon. Picula said he acquainted the Russian side with a joint letter he and his Yugoslav counterpart Goran Svilanovic sent the chairman of the UN Security Council Sergei Lavrov. "This initiative represents a step forward in the settlement of the Croatian-Yugoslav border issue. We expect Russia's support in bringing the UN mandate on Prevlaka to an end as soon as possible," he said, adding the Russian side supported the initiative. The Croatian delegation today wrapped up the visit to Russia and departed to Kazakhstan. (hina) ha sb