FINANCIAL PERCEPTION OF CROATIA SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED -- DEVELOPMENT BANK REPS

ZAGREB, Sept 15 (Hina) - Croatia's perception among international financial circles has significantly improved in a very short period of time, which could result in an increase of foreign investments and the creation of new jobs, chairman of the Council of Europe Development Bank management board, Kari Nars, said in Zagreb Friday. I wish to stress a very important fact that in a very short time the perception of Croatia has significantly increased, not only within our Bank, but also among international financial circles, Nars said after talks with Croatian vice-premiers Zeljka Antunovic and Slavko Linic. Croatia is considered a very good partner and I hope this will result in an increase of foreign investments and the creation of new jobs, which is one of the government's basic tasks, Nars said. He added Croatia was a very good and responsible receptor of loans, and expressed satisfaction with the usage of so far granted loans for the health and education sector, as well as for the reconstruction of homes. We are now hoping to assist in the development of small and middle- scale business, Nars said. Antunovic told reporters both sides were exceptionally satisfied with the meeting, and their "views on the economic and social development of the Croatian society correlate, which means that the Council of Europe Development Bank and Croatia will cooperate better and more in the future". "We assessed Croatia's most acute needs which could be brought down to small and middle-scale entrepreneurship and the creation of an increased social security of Croatian citizens," Antunovic said, adding the Bank would help Croatia not only financially, but also for it to receive a better rating in other international financial institutions. (hina) lml