MESIC MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF CROATIAN MINORITY IN BUDAPEST

BUDAPEST, Oct 19 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic on Thursday started the second day of his official visit to Hungary by talks with Croatian businessmen in Hungary, representatives of the Croatian minority and the visit to Croatian school centre. The conclusion of the talks with about 20 Croatian entrepreneurs in Hungary is that Croatia will have difficulties placing its products on the market, because kuna is overvalued, President Mesic said. The Croatian President also met with president of the umbrella organisation of Hungarian Croats - the Croatian state self- government. Mesic supported a motion in line with which certain buildings along the Adriatic coast or on Croatian islands would be turned over to Croatian minorities, not only in Hungary but around the world. He also expressed hope that the government would consider this initiative. The Croatian President expressed hope that a discussion on the possibility on electing representatives of national minorities to the Hungarian parliament would end in the near future. "I believe this will be solved, even though we are not certain when, in line with European standards, as it was the case in Croatia", Mesic concluded. (hina) it jn