OPPOSITION LEADERS SATISFIED WITH VISIT TO WASHINGTON

( Editorial: --> 6746 ) WASHINGTON, July 9 (Hina) - Five Croatian Opposition leaders on Thursday completed their visit to Washington, satisfied with the frankness and fruitfulness of their talks with the US administration. The leaders of the Liberal Party (LS), Croatian People's Party (HNS), Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), Social-Democratic Party (SDP) and Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) this week held talks with the Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, her deputy Strobe Talbott and aide on Europe Marc Grossman and representatives of several political institutes. The visit of the Croatian Opposition was organised by the US government agency USIA. "The talks have exceeded all our expectations. I think that none of us believed that we would be given such a hearty welcome and have such important and open talks on all issues," LS leader Vlado Gotovac said. "I believe that with our help, and hopefully with the help of Croatia's governing party, we can show that this visit has contributed to the improvement of relations between the democratic Croatia and the United States," SDP leader Ivica Racan said. HSS President Zlatko Tomcic said the visit showed that claims saying the Opposition went to Washington for political instructions were unfounded. "It is evident that America also invited Opposition leaders in order to show that it considered Croatia a friend," Tomcic said. IDS President Ivan Jakovcic said the meeting with State Department officials would surely "deepen the Croatian-American relations, but also bring something new onto the Croatian political scene". Jakovcic expressed hope that Croatia would continue cooperating with America and deepen its cooperation with European countries. HNS President Radimir Cacic said the talks focused on the issue of free market as one of key elements for the country's successful development. The five Opposition leaders should end their visit to the United States on Thursday afternoon, local time, after a meeting with American Croats in Pittsburgh. (hina) rml 092045 MET jul 98