PRESIDENT MESIC HOLDS TALKS WITH BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER

LONDON, Dec 18 (Hina) - President Stjepan Mesic, who is on a four- day visit to Great Britain, met the British Foreign Minister Jack Straw in London Tuesday. They talked about the British support to Croatia's approaching the European Union, and the strengthening of bilateral relations between Great Britain and Croatia. Straw said Britain expected Croatia to make further progress in joining the European Union considering the efforts it had already made in that regard. "We expect of Great Britain to help us as it has so far, on a bilateral and multilateral level, given that our aim is association with the European Union. Britain is helping us in this", Mesic told journalists. He added channels for incoming British capital were already opened in Croatia. "Military cooperation is good, particularly regarding the training of personnel and the reorganisation of the Croatian Army", Mesic said. He stressed Croatia wanted to be an active member of the anti-terrorist coalition. Mesic will also meet Premier Tony Blair and the Interior Minister, David Blunkett. On Tuesday he met the head of a group for the promotion of religious tolerance, Sigmund Sternberg, the former British premier, Margaret Thatcher, the head of liberal democrats, Charles Kenedy, and the probable future high representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown. (hina) np