INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PROMOTING DEMOCRACY BEGINS IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, Feb 11 (Hina) - A two-day international conference titled "Promotion of Democracy" today began in Zagreb. The meeting was organized by the Zagreb-based "Erasmus Gilde" group and the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. Some twenty American and Western European foundations as well as by representatives of about fifty civilian groups, non- governmental organizations, independent trade unions, publications and media from Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia including Kosovo and Vojvodina, took part in the conference. The conference was aimed at promoting better relations between non-government and civilian organizations and at improving the coordination of western foundations which finance independent media in the countries emerging from the former Yugoslavia. At today's plenary session at the Hotel Esplanade participants rendered reports on civilian activities in their countries and on problems they faced most frequently in encounters with the authorities. The conference is to end tomorrow night and a press conference is expected afterwards. (hina) jn sd mms 111701 MET feb 95