ASSISTANT TO CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PAYS VISIT TO WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON, July 21 (Hina) - The main purpose of my tour to Washington was to become acquainted with the work of various factors that participate in the creation of then United States' foreign policy. In addition, considering the fact that Croatia's top officials will soon visiting the United States, I held talks on political issues of the both countries' interest, said an assistant to Croatian Foreign Minister, Mislav Kukoc, in Washington on Friday. During his one-week-long stay in the U.S capital, Kukoc used the occasion to see the work of the State Department's division in charge of political planning, the National Security Council and the Defence Department's strategic division. He also held talks with members of the Senate's international affairs committee and representatives of some institutes that tackle the foreign affairs' issues. All of his interlocutors in Washington are confident that the coming visit of Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and Prime Minister Ivica Racan will contribute to the furtherance of the US-Croatian relations. Such expectations are grounded on the knowledge that Croatia is now a factor that contributes to bids to solve problems in the region and that Zagreb is no longer a part of those problems, Kukoc added. (hina) ms