CRO FOREIGN MINISTER CONTINUES PROGRAMME OF BILATERAL MEETINGS

( Editorial: --> 2559 ) NEW YORK, Sept 23 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Wednesday continued his intensive programme of bilateral meetings in New York. Granic spoke to representatives of the American Jewish Council regarding relations between Croatia and Israel and the recent meeting between Granic and Premier Benjamin Netanyahu in New York. The Jewish representatives were interested in the status of Jews in Croatia and their participation in political and public life. They welcomed Croatia's transparency in the preparations for the trial against the former Jasenovac camp commander Dinko Sakic as well as its readiness to open the proceedings to interested observers. The American Jewish Council has shown interest in observing the trial. Granic had already held meetings with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan as well as Spain's Abel Matutes. The Spanish foreign minister welcomed the positive trend in the implementation of the return programme to Croatia and confirmed that Croatia's standing in Europe depends on Zagreb's politics towards neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina. Talks with the Czech foreign minister were an opportunity to express Croatia's interest to be accepted to the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and other central European initiatives which will be chaired by the Czech Republic next year. On Sunday Minister Granic will address the 53rd session of the UN General Assembly. (Hina) sp 231853 MET sep 98