PEACE MOVEMENT OF CROATIAN MOTHERS WINDS UP VISIT TO JAPAN

TOKYO, March 10 (Hina) - The head of the 'Rampart of Love', Croatian mothers' peace movement, Ana Lisak and a representative of the 'Croatian Humanitarian Network', Josipa Milas-Matutinovic, on Monday visited Croatian Embassy in Tokyo after their 20-day visit to Japan. They notified Croatian Ambassador Andjelko Simic, that they had toured many places all over Japan and that Japanese relief and civil organisations showed great interest in the situation in and development of Croatia. The aim of their visit to Japan was to establish cooperation with peace and humanitarian non-governmental organisations and agencies. In fourteen biggest Japanese cities Ms. Lisak and Ms. Milas- Matutinovic held numerous lectures, two special news conferences and opened several exhibitions of paintings and drawings of Croatian children. The also gave many interviews with local electronic and print media. They spoke to the Japanese of causes and reasons of the war in Croatia, of problems of war victims as well as how to offer support to work of humanitarian societies in Croatia. Many of their meetings are to turn into permanent cooperation and a branch of the 'Rampart of Love' is expected to be founded in Japan. Japanese relief agencies are showing increasing interest in support to Croatia, and Japanese public becomes interested in overall problems Croatia is facing after the war. Versatile cooperation and trade in a period of Croatia's reconstruction and development interests much Japanese business companies as well. (hina) mš 101811 MET mar 97