CRO SCIENCE MINISTER VISITS CANADA

TORONTO, June 24 (Hina) - A ministerial conference called "Global Knowledge 97" started in Toronto on Tuesday. The conference was organized by the World Bank and the Canadian Government and gathers representatives from 180 countries, including Croatia. The conference was opened by the president of the World Bank, James D. Wolfensohn and Canadian Premier Jean Cheritien. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan also held an introductory speech. Croatia is represented by its Science and Technology Minister Ivica Kostovic, who held meetings with the Canadian Economy, Science and Technology Minister, John Manley, the vice president of Canada's National Science and Research Council, and the manager for the Foreign Ministry's international scientific cooperation. Kostovic also met with South Ontario Croats, to whom he spoke about actual issues of Croatia's interior and foreign policy. He is to hold other meetings with Croats in Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal. (hina) ha 242031 MET jun 97