US SECRETARY OF STATE MEETS CROATIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS

( Editorial: --> 6919 ) ZAGREB, Aug 30 (Hina) - Representatives of six Croatian Opposition parties met US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in Zagreb on Sunday. The US Secretary of State, who paid a one-day visit to Zagreb, expressed satisfaction with efforts of the Croatian parliamentary Opposition to cooperate in the country's democratic and economic development, Opposition leaders said. "We have informed Mrs. Albright in short about the conclusions of our meeting (held last Friday). We have not noticed any disappointment on her part," Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Ivica Racan said. Opposition leaders on Friday determined foundations for cooperation in dealing with the current strategic issues, important for Croatia's development. Participating in the talks with the US Secretary of State were, along with Racan, Zlatko Tomicic (Croatian Peasants' Party, HSS), Vlado Gotovac (Liberal Party, LS), Drazen Budisa (Croatian Social- Liberal Party, HSLS), Radimir Cacic (Croatian People's Party, HNS) and Ivan Jakovcic (Istrian Democratic Assembly, IDS). The meeting, held behind closed doors at the Zagreb hotel "Sheraton", lasted about half an hour. Addressing reporters after the meeting, SDP's Racan said the US Secretary of State was well informed about the developments in Croatia, including Opposition cooperation efforts. "Mrs. Albright reiterated the well-known stands of the United States on the fight for democracy, democratic standards and media freedom, as well as on the need for everyone, including the Opposition, to contribute to that process," Racan said. According to LS president Vlado Gotovac, both sides expressed a wish to meet again. The Opposition leaders also extended their sympathies for the grave human losses in the recent terrorist attacks and expressed their support for the fight against terrorism. (hina) rml 301541 MET aug 98