GRANIC MEETS ISRAELI-CROATIAN FRIENDSHIP LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVES

( Editorial: --> 8907 ) ZAGREB, Sept 8 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Tuesday received representatives of the Israeli-Croatian Friendship League which was headed by the organisation's president Samuel Schlesinger. Minister Granic advised his guests of the current economic- political situation in Croatia and of Croatian foreign affairs objectives, stressing the firm determination for the consistent implementation of peace agreements for Bosnia-Herzegovina and of Croatia's impending integration into European and trans-Atlantic integration processes. Granic used the opportunity to mention Croatian-Israeli relations, which have developed in the short year since the establishment of diplomatic ties and that he supported a further strengthening of those ties on all levels. Agreeing with Granic's evaluation of bilateral relations, League representatives emphasise that since the Croatian Embassy had opened in Israel and contacts and visits had been intensified, the Israeli public opinion of Croatia had changed a great deal, a press release issued by the Croatian Foreign Ministry noted. The Israeli guests were especially interested in investment possibilities in Croatia, highlighting tourism as a branch of specific interest. In addition to League president Samuel Schlesinger, the meeting was attended by three League members, Jack Padwa, Gershon Peres and Shimon Romach. (Hina) sp jn/mbr 081429 MET sep 98