CRO PRESIDENT MESIC HOLDS TALKS WITH HOLLY SEE SECRETARY OF STATE

VATICAN, July 4 (Hina) - Relations between Croatia and Vatican are good, Croatian President Stipe Mesic and his host Holly See Secretary of State Angelo Sodano concluded after their talks Tuesdays. Today's talks were mainly about the situation in the southeast of Europe. Cardinal Sodano expressed particular interest in the situation in Serbia, the southern Yugoslav province of Kosovo and Albania, as well as in the position of Catholics in that part of the world. The two officials expressed same standpoints on many issues and a wish that all events in the southeast of Europe be solved peacefully. President Mesic stated his opinion on the situation and commented on a possible development of events in Belgrade. Without catharsis and political changes, it will be difficult to change the situation in Serbia, Mesic assessed. The officials also tackled the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia's points of view regarding the neighbouring country. Cardinal Sodano remembered that Mesic visited Vatican as a member of the former Yugoslav Presidency seeking Vatican's support for Croatia's independence. Mesic received the support. Now, Mesic arrived in Vatican as the President of Croatia and he can establish the promotion of relations between the two countries and between Croatia and the Church over the past ten years. (hina) it.