CRO AMERICANS' NATIONAL FEDERATION HOLDS CONVENTION IN WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON, June 3 (Hina) - The biggest association of Croat Americans - The National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) - held its election rally - in Washington D.C. over this weekend. About 30 representatives and their guests on Saturday discussed the NFCA's connections with the U.S. Administration and authorities and the influence which the federation could exert on the American policy for southeastern Europe. They also considered the current situation in Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina and the development of the business ties between the United States and Croatia. Guests at the event were Croatia's minister of small and medium- sized business, Zeljko Pecek, and an official of the US Chamber of Commerce, Mark van Fleet. On behalf of the U.S. Bishop's Conference, Walt Grazer, director of the U.S. Catholic Conference's Environmental Justice Program, addressed the meeting and informed its participants of his impression from his recent trip to Bosnia. Kresimir Pirsl, the minister plenipotentiary in the Croatian Embassy in Washington, notified the rally about the circumstances in Croatia and the accomplishment of strategic objectives of the ruling coalition government in Zagreb. Marko Tadic, the head of the Croatian coordination for Bosnia, expressed his opinion and views about the situation in Croatia and Bosnia. NFCA representatives held talks with a deputy assistant of the US State Secretary for Europe, Jim Swigter, at the State Department on Saturday as well. (hina) ms