CROATIAN WOMEN MPS TO TRAVEL TO OTTAWA FOR STUDY TOUR

ZAGREB, April 19 (Hina) - Nine women members of the Croatian National Sabor will travel to Ottawa for a study tour in May, the Canadian Embassy in Zagreb said in a statement on Wednesday. The purpose of the visit is to better enable Croatian women MPs to carry out their important duties. This initiative, launched by Canada's Minister for International Co-operation, Maria Minna, was conveyed to Croatian officials in Zagreb on Wednesday by the leader of the Canadian parliamentary majority in the House of Commons, Don Boudria. "Canada is pleased to see that more women have been elected to the Croatian parliament," the statement reads. Boudria and Croatian National Sabor President Zlatko Tomcic met in Zagreb yesterday and discussed the post-election situation in Croatia and the need to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation. The study tour will be carried out under the auspices of a new, two- year, US$600,000 Canada-Croatia Local Peacebuilding Response Cooperation Program. The program supports small-scale initiatives to strengthen civil society, promote democracy and good governance, and support human and minority rights. The programme is part of a package of cooperation initiatives which include projects to promote the independence and impartiality of judges. (hina) mm rml