INT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS SHOW INTEREST IN CROATIA - DEPUTY FINANCE M

FINANCE M $ INISTER HONG KONG, Sept 28 (Hina) - After attending the yearly session of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Hong Kong which ended on Thursday, a Croatian delegation headed by Deputy Finance Minister Josip Kulisic conducted talks with numerous financial institutions over the weekend. There is interest for Croatia, Kulisic told Hina on Sunday referring to talks with representatives of Merrill Lunch and Credit Swiss, and Austrian, German and Japanese banks, including Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi. Japanese banks are willing to issue a new bond with Croatia in the Japanese yen, Kulisic said, adding he expected this project could be realized in the near future. Talks with representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have been successful and correct, Kulisic said, adding earlier established programmes would continue to be implemented. New projects have been discussed with representatives of the World Bank, he said. Within the IMF, the United States continued to make further cooperation conditional on the implementation of critical articles in connection with the Dayton accords, Croatia's deputy finance minister pointed out. Of nine World Bank programmes being currently implemented, Kulisic singled out a programme for the financial reorganization of the banking system and public enterprises worth DM 160 million. The World Bank granted this loan in June, he said, adding both the bank and Croatia thought it was crucial to start implementing the said programme as soon as possible. The loan is expected to be ratified by the Croatian parliament next week, the deputy finance minister said. Other loans discussed by Croatia and the World Bank include a loan to support a pension scheme reform programme, a loan for the consolidation of the public sector, and a USD 100 million-worth loan for Croatian Railways, Croatia's Deputy Finance Minister Kulisic told Hina. (hina) ha 282128 MET sep 97