U.S. AMBASSADOR RECEIVES DELEGATION OF MISSING DEFENDERS' FAMILIES

( Editorial: --> 2816 ) ZAGREB, Mar 27 (Hina) - The United States Ambassador to Croatia, William Montgomery, Friday received a delegation of families of detained and missing Croatian defenders. Montgomery said he would initiate the opening of an International Commission for Missing Persons (ICMP) "Blue Ribbon" office in Zagreb, Ljubica Batula said on behalf of the delegation after the talks. "Blue Ribbon" is based in Sarajevo and is headed by U.S. senator Robert Dole. Batula said it was necessary to open an office in Zagreb because of insufficient contact and cooperation with the ICMP. Meetings with high ICMP officials take place twice a year which, she believes, is too infrequent. The first such meeting, sponsored by Dole, took place in January 1998. (hina) ha jn 271554 MET mar 98