CROATIAN ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES U.S. OFFICIAL

ZAGREB, June 23 (Hina) - A Croatian Assistant Foreign Minister, Spomenka Cek, on Monday received a U.S. Assistant Trade Secretary Marjory Searing. Ms. Searing arrived in Croatia for the official opening of a regional office of trade in Zagreb that will function at the U.S. Embassy in the Croatian capital, covering Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry. During the talks, the U.S. official said that by the opening of the trade office, the United States expressed wish to promote significantly economic cooperation with Croatia. A long-standing senior official of the Trade Department, Patrick Hughes, would run the office, she added. Ms. Cek informed the U.S. guest of the latest basic macroeconomic indicators of the Croatian economy and of entire processes of privatisation and liberalisation of the economic system. In respect of the political stabilisation of the region and positive economic processes, the opening of the office was in the right time, Ms. Searing said. (hina) jn mš 231804 MET jun 97