ITALIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES CROATIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION

( Editorial: --> 3923 ) ROME, April 1 (Hina) - The successful development of Croatian- Italian relations was the central topic of talks held in Rome on Wednesday between Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro and a Croatian National Parliament delegation headed by Speaker Vlatko Pavletic. The talks at the Italian President's Quirinal headquarters started the official three-day visit by Croatian parliamentarians to Italy. Scalfaro and Pavletic said that friendship between the two states had never been brought into question and that it had developed on all levels. Today Italy is one of Croatia's most important political and economic partners. Pavletic informed Scalfaro of the situation in Croatia, especially of conditions in the Danube River region. Croatia is endeavouring to resolve all issues and all of its pledged obligations, from the return of refugees and displaced people to the Danube region to resolving the employment issues, Pavletic said. (Hina) jn mb /rm 011506 MET apr 98