ZAGREB, Aug 11 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic said in Zagreb on Friday the talks Croatian officials had held with US officials in Washington over the past few days had helped the presentation of Croatia's potential to US
business people.
ZAGREB, Aug 11 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic said in
Zagreb on Friday the talks Croatian officials had held with US
officials in Washington over the past few days had helped the
presentation of Croatia's potential to US business people. #L#
"It is my belief that the talks were mutually useful," Mesic told
reporters at Zagreb airport upon his return from Washington.
It was especially important for the Croatian delegation, he said,
to suggest to the US side "to act through business associations so
that Croatia is recognised as a law-based state in which one can
invest."
Prime Minister Ivica Racan, who was also in the delegation, stayed
in the United States for a private visit.
During the four-day visit, the Croatian delegation held talks with
US President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright,
Secretary of Defence William Cohen and other US state officials and
representatives of international financial organisations based in
Washington.
Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said the visit had a clear
financial-economic dimension because the Croatian government had,
along with US$30 million of assistance, been given support for
implementing economic reforms.
Picula said the US President had given his support for the Croatian
government to organise the presentation of Croatia's economy in
several US cities next month.
Asked about one of the topics at the Washington talks - the
situation in neighbouring Yugoslavia - Picula said the Croatian
delegation had expressed their scepticism regarding the potential
of the Serbian Opposition and the prospects of the Belgrade
political scene after Milosevic's departure.
(hina) rml