INCOMING ITALIAN AMBASSADOR VISITS PULA

PULA, Sept 5 (Hina) - The incoming Italian Ambassador to Croatia, Alessandro Grafini, on Friday visited Pula, where he held talks with Istria County prefect Ivan Jakovcic and announced the possibility of opening Italian consulate offices in Pula and Buje. #L# Grafini was accompanied by the Italian Consul to Rijeka, Roberto Pietrosanto, and the director of the Italian Institute for Culture, Flavio Andresi. Ambassador Grafini said that the opening of Italian consulate offices in Pula and Buje would greatly facilitate communication between the residents of Istria and Italy. He expressed satisfaction with the position of the Italian minority in Istria. "To have a multiethnic and multicultural region such as Istria today is a great treasure. That is why cooperation between Italy and Croatia in that area is very important," Grafini said. Jakovcic voiced satisfaction with the activities of the Italian government in Istria, especially with regard to education and the activities of Istrian Italians. He acquainted the guests with the elite tourism project "Brijuni - Rivijera". The Italian delegation is also to visit the Italian primary and secondary schools in Pula and the association of local Italians, as well as meet Pula mayor Luciano Delbianco. (hina) rml