JAPAN TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CROATIA

TOKYO, Dec 15 (Hina) - The Japanese government on Saturday decided to begin providing official assistance in the development of Croatia, beginning with 1997, the Tokyo English daily "The Daily Yomiuri" published on Sunday, quoting Japanese Foreign Ministry sources. #L# Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda is expected to announce the decision during talks with his Croatian counterpart Mate Granic who is to arrive in Japan for a several-day official visit. After a successful visit to South Korea, Granic is to visit Japan where he will hold talks with Ikeda and the president of the Japanese Parliament, as well as other Japanese officials. Japan is to provide the Official Development Assistance (ODA) as a member of the Development Assistance Committee (DAS) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). As the first step in the programme of assistance, Japan is to take in several dozens of Croatian engineers for advanced training after it sends a mission to Croatia to establish facts, "The Daily Yomiuri" said. According to Japanese Foreign Ministry sources, the decision on providing assistance to the development of Croatia had been reached for Croatia's positive role in the Dayton peace process and stabilization of the situation within its borders. (hina) lm 151012 MET dec 96