MESIC RECEIVES COUNCIL OF EUROPE DEVELOPMENT BANK DELEGATION

ZAGREB, Sept 14 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stipe Mesic on Thursday received a Council of Europe Development Bank delegation to discuss ways of using loans the Bank granted Croatia for numerous projects in health, education, house reconstruction, and refugee returns. Since beginning cooperation three or four years ago, the bank has granted Croatia loans amounting to 1.2 billion kuna, the head of the delegation and chairman of the bank's management, Karl Nars, told a news conference after the talks. The funds have been intended for the renovation and building of hospitals, schools, houses, and returns of refugees to pre-war homes throughout Croatia. Nars said cooperation with Croatia was outstansing because the Croatian representatives sitting on the bank's board were very good. He added it was agreed with President Mesic to continue cooperation, namely finance important projects, including helping small and medium-sized enterprise. Nars said Croatia, among the first from Central and East Europe to join the Council of Europe Development Bank, was one of the most active among the new members. The bank's delegation, which includes Secretary-General Constantinos Pilavachi, will hold talks with Mirjna Feric-Vac, head of a Croatian parliamentary delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, and Jadranko Mijalic, chairman of parliament's Finances and State Budget Committee. (hina) ha