CRO JUDGES' ASSOCIATION HEAD & U.S. AMBASSADOR ON CRO JUDICIARY

ZAGREB, July 16 (Hina) - The president of the Croatian Judges' Association (UHS) and the United States Ambassador to Croatia on Thursday held talks on Croatian judiciary and joint projects. According to a statement the UHS issued on Friday, UHS president Vladimir Gredelj and Ambassador William Montgomery concluded the UHS is a significant factor in Croatia's democratic processes. The talks were the continuation of the very successful cooperation begun at the first Gredelj-Montgomery meeting in May 1998, the statement added. Montgomery confirmed his support to the UHS. The two officials agreed on a meeting to be held in late September between an UHS delegation and a group of leading world countries' ambassadors accredited in Croatia. It was announced U.S. Supreme Court judge Sandra D. O'Conner will visit Croatia. Discussing Croatian judiciary, Montgomery and Gredelj focused on the state's unpaid debts to courts, the government's intention to cut judges' salaries, and the consequences such steps will have on an effective protection of Croatian citizens' rights. As regards joint future projects, the UHS statement said this year Croatian Judges' Day, December 22, will be marked with a project on the ethics of judges. The project will include U.S. guests and lecturers. (hina) ha