GRANIC RECEIVES JAPANESE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

ZAGREB, Jul 31 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic received Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Shunga Yanai and his associates in Zagreb on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The pair agreed that Japanese-Croatian relations had reached a new stage, which presented new opportunities for development in all fields. Yanai praised Croatia's role in maintaining regional stability. Japan was interested in increasing trade with Croatia and boosting investment, he said. He added that the Japanese Government had cancelled all restrictions on tourist trips to Croatia. Granic acquainted his Japanese guest with the progress of the peaceful reintegration of the Danubian area. Discussing the implementation of the Bosnian peace accord, Granic and Yanai agreed that the September elections should be held as scheduled and that war crimes suspects should be removed from political life. Yanai invited Granic to visit Japan and announced his government's intention to open an embassy in Zagreb next year. (hina) as 311811 MET jul 96