PRESIDENT MESIC TALKS WITH US AMBASSADOR ABOUT VISIT TO USA

ZAGREB, May 22 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic on Monday received the US Ambassador to Croatia, William Montgomery, and spoke about the announced visit of President Mesic and Prime Minister Ivica Racan to the United States. The US heeds the visit of the Croatian President and Prime Minister as very important for bilateral relations. These talks were within the framework of our wish for Mesic and Racan's visit, along with the meeting with President Clinton, be prepared as an elaborate programme of important official and unofficial talks, Montgomery said after the talks. Asked about the exact date of the visit, he announced it would officially be issued during a meeting of the NATO Ministerial Council scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday in Florence. Unofficially, the visit has been announced for August 2. Montgomery said the talks also focused on overcoming obstacles for Croatia's accession into the World Trade Organisation, including the dispute between the USA and EU surrounding the regulation of audio and visual services. We are aware of the importance of this issue for Croatia. It is our intention to reach a satisfactory agreement with the EU in the near future so Croatia could become a member of the WTO, he stressed. (hina) lml mm