UNITED STATES CONGRATULATES CROATIANS ON CONDUCT OF ELECTION

ZAGREB, Jan 25 (Hina) - The US State Department on Tuesday extended congratulations "to the people of Croatia on the conduct of the first round of Presidential elections on January 24," read a statement given by State Department spokesman James Rubin. "International and domestic observer missions reported that voting was conducted smoothly and professionally throughout the country," it added. The statement, forwarded to Hina by the US Embassy in Zagreb, read that "credit for the success of these elections is owed to the Croatian people, who braved cold and icy weather to vote in high numbers, to the thousands of Croatian citizens who participated in the running of the elections as polling officials and observers, and to the Croatian State Election Commission. The last ensured that both the campaign and voting were well-conducted." The State Department also congratulated the two victors in the first round, Stjepan Mesic and Drazen Budisa. The statement read that US authorities "look forward to working closely with the new Government of Croatia, which will be confirmed when the new Parliament convenes on February 2, and with the new President, who will be chosen in the second round of elections February 7." (hina) ms