PRIME MINISTER MATESA RECEIVES DELEGATION FROM TOWNS' ASSOCIATION

( Editorial: --> 0946 ) ZAGREB, March 19 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa talked on Thursday with a delegation of the Association of Towns and Municipalities of the Republic of Croatia. They discussed the outline of a new bill on financing local administration and self-government. The delegation, headed by Zadar Mayor Bozidar Kalmeta, and the Prime Minister especially discussed ideas for restructuring of the state administration and transfer of its competencies on local administration and self-government. The provisions are based on President Franjo Tudjman's state of the nation address for 1997 delivered at a joint session of the Parliament on 27 January 1998, the Government's Communications Office said. According to the Office, the meeting agreed that representatives of the Association would actively participate in final drafting of the law. (Hina) jn mr /mb 192143 MET mar 98