GRANIC CONGRATULATES ALBRIGHT ON APPOINTMENT

ZAGREB, Dec 6 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Friday sent a telegram to Madeleine Albright congratulating her on her appointment as Secretary of State of the United States. Granic expressed satisfaction with US President Bill Clinton's decision, stressing that the appointment of Mrs Albright guaranteed a continuation of successful US foreign policy towards Central and Southeastern Europe. I am confident that your extraordinary diplomatic and political skill and experience and your dedication to the highest standards of democracy, as well as your unlimited energy in pursuing your ideals, will enable you to give a valuable contribution to defining the role of the United States in the 21st century, Granic wrote. Granic expressed interest in the continuation of a successful dialogue on all issues of mutual interest in the spirit of friendship and partnership between Croatia and the United States, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. (hina) vm 062021 MET dec 96