SANADER RECEIVES FINNISH DELEGATION

ZAGREB, Feb 17 (Hina) - A Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister, Ivo Sanader, on Monday received a delegation of Finland's parliamentary foreign policy committee, led by the committee's head Markus Altonen. Sanader notified Altonen of main guidelines and priorities of Croatia's foreign policy. Speaking of the current political developments in the country the Croatian official stressed the importance of successful preparations and conduct of local elections in the Croatian Danubian area. Within 30 days after the holding of the elections, local bodies of authority should be established, which would pave the way toward the successful end of the UNTAES mandate on July 15, Sanader said. The two sides portrayed the relations between the two countries as very good and voiced hope that cooperation would be promoted. The Croatian Parliament foreign policy committee met also the Finnish foreign policy committee's delegation. They discussed the successful completion of peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area and the expiry of the UNTAES mandate there. (hina) jn mš 171557 MET feb 97