PRESIDENT MESIC RECEIVES DIPLOMATIC CORPS ON BRIJUNI ISLANDS

BRIJUNI, June 13 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic received about 50 representatives of the diplomatic corps in Croatia and their wives in a two-day visit on the northern Adriatic Islands of Brijuni Tuesday. According to President Mesic, after today's visit to the Brijuni Islands, members of the diplomatic corps will become ambassadors of the Croatian tourism. After a reception in Villa White, President Mesic answered questions to reporters, mostly regarding the commercialising of villas on the Brijuni Islands. Speaking of the residential part of the Brijuni Islands, Mesic pointed out that several villas should be used for the elite tourism, while some should be used for the state protocol. He particularly advocated the opening of the Lesser Brijuni for the purpose of the elite tourism. He said that "everything has been arranged, a good investor which would enable the realisation of the project of transforming Brijuni into an elite tourist destination should be found". Mesic stressed today's visit of the ambassadors to Brijuni was significant, and the message from the meeting would reach those who were able to finance the building of objects for the elite tourism. When asked where was he to spend his summer vacation, Mesic said he would travel across the Adriatic, including Brijuni. He stressed his stay on Brijuni would not be "a working vacation which was a burden to Croatian tax payers in the past", and added he would pay for his vacation. President Mesic said up until today he had not receive the answer to his question about the cost of the vacation. According to Mesic, Kazakhstan's President and other officials expressed interest in vacation on Brijuni Islands". (hina) it mm