MESIC OPENS HONORARY CROATIAN CONSULATE IN PITTSBURGH

PITTSBURGH, May 7 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic opened a honorary Croatian consulate in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, and handed credentials to honorary consul Marion Vujevic. #L# "The opening of a honorary consulate is important for Croatia and the United States, but first of all for the Croat community in Pennsylvania," said Mesic. He thanked the members and leaders of the Croatian Brotherhood Community (HBZ) for preserving Croatian traditions, the language and culture, and for building strong ties between the US and Croatia. The Pittsburgh consulate will be able to fully rely on the most influential American Croat organisation, the HBZ, said its president Bernard Luketich. He described Mesic's visit to the HBZ seat as historical. The US officials in attendance agreed. Speaking on Pittsburgh's behalf, City Council president Gene Ricciardi said that May 7 had been declared Croatian President Stjepan Mesic's Day. US journalists interviewing Mesic at the HBZ seat were interested in Croatia's role in the struggle against global terrorism, steps in economic revival, the activity of the judiciary, and the signing of US-Croatia agreements on social protection and the avoidance of double taxation. (hina) ha sb