GRANIC RECEIVES DELEGATION OF MINORITY CROATS FROM AUSTRIA

ZAGREB, March 4 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Monday received a delegation of Burgenland Croats, a Croatian minority in Austria. The delegation was headed by Croatian Cultural Society president Zlatka Gieler and political leader Niki Berlakovic. Speaking of Burgenland (Gradisce) Croats as one of the oldest Croatian communities abroad, Granic recalled the important role they had played in the period of establishing the Croatian state, a Foreign Ministry statement said. Croatia was now in a position to offer more help to Croats living outside its borders, he said, adding that preparations were under way for signing an agreement on cultural cooperation between Croatia and Austria. (hina) lm vm 041448 MET mar 96