TOMCIC MEETS TURKISH AMBASSADOR, NDI OFFICIALS

ZAGREB, Mar 7 (Hina) - Croatian Sabor President Zlatko Tomcic on Tuesday met Turkish Ambassador Selahattin Alpar, with whom he discussed the continuation of parliamentary cooperation. The two officials expressed readiness to keep up intensive parliamentary relations, especially for the sake of common political interests and cooperation in the area of economy and tourism. Tomcic accepted an invitation by the President of the Turkish Assembly to visit Turkey and an invitation to attend a ceremony marking the 700th anniversary of the Turkish state in April this year. Tomcic today also received a delegation of the National Democratic Institute for International Relations (NDI) from Washington, headed by Karen Gainer, director of a programme for political parties in Croatia and Portuguese politician Joao de Menezes Ferreira. Present at the talks was also Cathy Westley, programme advisor with the NDI in Washington. The NDI representatives told Tomcic they wished the Institute to continue operating in Croatia with the aim of promoting democracy. They also offered a programme on cooperation between the NDI and the Croatian Sabor. (hina) rml