CROATIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES DUBROVNIK COUNTY DELEGATION

ZAGREB, May 14 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman received a delegation of Dubrovnik County on Tuesday on the occasion of County Day, the President's Office said in a statement. County Prefect Jure Buric informed the President of preparations for the upcoming tourist season and of reconstruction projects in Dubrovnik County. The President said that Croatia was expecting a lot from this year's tourist season, adding that better links should be established as soon as possible between the County and other parts of Croatia as well as with Europe and the world. The Mayors of Dubrovnik, Ploce, Metkovic and Korcula, Niko Obuljen, Josko Damic, Ivo Margeta and Ante Lakic, informed the President about development programmes for their towns, asking for greater assistance from the Government, for which they received the President's support. The President said that Croatian emigrants from the region should also be involved in reconstruction and development programmes because Croatia aimed to facilitate their return to their native land. Also attending the talks were Presidential Chief of Staff Ivo Sanader and Presidential Advisers Ivic Pasalic and Franjo Kajfez. The Dubrovnik County delegation also included County Deputy Prefect Luka Siljeg and County Assembly President Vinko Brnadic, the statement concluded. (hina) vm 141325 MET may 96