WORLD BANK MISSION VISITS CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 7202 ) ZAGREB, Mar 4 (Hina) - A mission of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development visited Croatia with the director of the department for Croatia, Arntraud Hartmann, at the head, the Croatian Ministry of Finance said in a statement Wednesday. During the visit meetings were held with Croatian vice premiers Borislav Skegro, Mate Granic and Ljerka Mintas-Hodak, Government ministers, the governor of the Croatian People's Bank, and representatives of other departments and public companies. Talks focused on Croatia's cooperation with the IBRD, which in the past five years, since Croatia became a member on February 25, 1993, granted 11 loans worth US$583.5, as well as on the development of relations in the next three years. It has been ascertained that Croatia's yearly debt accumulation with the IBRD would amount to between US$200 million and US$250 million, meaning that Croatia would be granted three or four new loans per year. Also present at the meetings during IBRD's visit was a representative of the recently opened World Bank office in Zagreb, Sandor Sipos. (hina) ha jn 042140 MET mar 98