DEPUTY IMMIGRATION MINISTER VISITS CROAT COMMUNITY IN PITTSBURGH

PITTSBURGH, June 5 (Hina) - Croatian Deputy Return and Immigration Minister Josip Juras visited the 250,000-strong Croatian community in Pittsburgh, USA, on Tuesday, the ministry said in a statement on Thursday. Juras addressed a session of the Croatian Fraternal Union, which was founded in 1894 and which now has 100,000 members, on the economic and political situation in Croatia and efforts of his ministry to facilitate the return of Croatian expatriates to their homeland. Croatian expatriates showed great interest in the possibility of purchasing shares and real estate, particularly on the Croatian Adriatic Coast, and in the possibility of young people studying at Croatian universities. Juras also spoke of the forthcoming presidential election in Croatia. All the participants gave their full support to President Franjo Tudjman, confirming that all of them eligible to vote would turn out for the ballot. (hina) vm jn 051409 MET jun 97