MESIC TO ATTEND INT. CONFERENCE 'PARTNERS IN TRANSITION' IN SOFIA

ZAGREB, Sept 9 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic on Monday travels to Bulgaria to attend a conference, which will be organised in Sofia by the United States' Agency for International Development (USAID). During his two-day stay in Sofia, President Mesic will meet Bulgaria's top officials - President Petar Stojanov and Premier Simeon Sakskoburgotski. On Tuesday, Mesic will hold a speech at the final part of the USAID conference called 'Partners in Transition'. On Tuesday also, the Croatian head of state will hold talks with Andrew S. Natsios, the Secretary-General of the USAID, an independent association of the US Administration which was set up in 1961 during the term of office of John Kennedy. The USAID organised the first conference for central and eastern European countries in Warsaw in 1999. Croatia will be the host of its third conference of this kind, scheduled for 2003. The USAID's policy is to offer assistance in economic development and democratisation of poor or disaster-hit countries. The Sofia event will draw top officials of 26 central and eastern European countries and countries established in the area of the former Soviet Union. (hina) ms