A BRIEF LOOK AT CROATIAN PRESS ON FRIDAY

ZAGREB, Aug 5 (Hina) - Today's front-page article in the prominent Zagreb daily VJESNIK focuses on the Pope's visit next month which will acknowledge the Croation Catholic Church. Bishop Marko Culej told a committee convened to handle the arrangements for the event that the visit would be another opportunity for Croatia to be recognised as a Catholic nation. The visit would also be used to express gratitude to the Holy Father for all he had done for Croatia's recognition by the international community. Other leading articles in today's VJESNIK include commentary on the latest decision by the rump Yugoslav federation of Serbia and Montenegro to sever its ties with the Bosnian Serbs. The severed relationship was the result of the Bosnian Serb parliament rejecting the five-power Contact Group peace plan. VJESNIK writes that Karadzic, Koljevic and other Serb leaders had made it clear in their Parliament at Pale they were both offended and surprised. UNPROFOR has rejected a report in the Italian daily 'La Repubblica' claiming that UNPROFOR would withdraw its troops from Bosnia-Herzegovina within three months, according to an article in VJESNIK. UNPROFOR spokesman, Major Rob Annink, said the UN Commander for Bosnia-Herzegovina Lt.Gen.Sir Michael Rose had not received orders for the withdrawl of UN peacekeepers from Bosnia- Herzegovina. Croatian exports to Slovenia totalled USD 170.5 million in the first five months this year representing a 53.1 per cent decrease on last year's figures. Meanwhile imports totalled USD 150.8 million - or 47.6 per cent less than last year, according to Vjesnik. IN another Zagreb-based daily, VECERNJI LIST, an article said the arrival of the Pope and German Minister Klaus Kinkel - particularly his views on Croatian occupied territories - would lend support to Croatian policy. The paper elaborates on Kinkel's statement calling for demilatarization of Serb-occupied territories in Croatia and the creation of favourable conditions enabling Croat refugees to return to their homes. Europe would keep its word, the article concluded. The Adriatic tourism season was growing this summer, according to Vecernji List, which reported that 9.3 million tourists so far had visited the Croation coast for overnight stays. "Is food in Croatia too expensive?" is the subject of an interview with the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Ivan Tarnaj. The Minister said European countries earmarked 65 per cent of their budget for agriculture compared to Croatia's three per cent. "This is one of the main reasons why food is expensive," the Minister said. Vecerinji List's coverage of the freshly severed relationship between Bosnian Serbs and Serbia was encapsulated in a comment piece headlined - "Artful Dodgers". (hina) sd vm 051235 MET aug 94