A BRIEF LOOK AT CROATIAN PRESS ON TUESDAY

ZAGREB, April 11 (Hina) - Today's VJESNIK leads with an article headlined "Prime Ministers to Meet Soon", on talks in Ljubljana between Croatian foreign minister Mate Granic and his Slovene counterpart Zoran Thaler. Vjesnik carries a comment piece on the forthcoming World Congress of Istrians, under the headline "And Where Is Croatia", describing as a high political risk meeting. The paper includes an interview with Zlatko Kramaric, Mayor of Osijek and Liberal deputy to the Croatian Parliament, under the headline "Croatian Cities Seek More Powers". Vjesnik comments on the regrouping of forces on the Bosnian political scene in an article headlined "'Historic' Agreement at Croats' Expense?" The headline refers to a failed "historic agreement" between Bosnian Muslim opposition leaders Adil Zulfikarpasic and Muhamed Filipovic with the Serbs, brokered by Serbian President Milosevic in 1991. The other Zagreb-based daily, VECERNJI LIST, carries a front page article headlined "Croatia Ranking High", with highlights of a report by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. EBRD experts estimate that Croatia's national income would rise by four percent this year, with three percent inflation, according to Vecernji List. "A Terrible Mistake" is the headline of a comment piece on the US and European countries underestimating a threat posed by Russia. The article draws a parallel between the American overestimation of "Communist conspiracy" in 1960s, which had driven the US to Vietnam disaster, and the equally terrible underestimation of contemporary Russia and its influence in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. Vecernji List carries an interview with UN spokesman Michael Williams under the headline "Along the Border by End of May". "The Secretary General's report will be crucial for further developments; the main obstacles are in Knin and I think them to be serious," said Williams. The paper also includes an interview with the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) secretary, Ivan Gabelica, under the headline "Driving Occupying Forces Out Is Our Chief Obligation." (hina) bk 111252 MET apr 95