ROUND TABLE ON TIES BETWEEN CROATIA AND DIASPORA ( Editorial: --> 2350 )

( Editorial: --> 2350 ) ZAGREB, Nov 20 (Hina) - The central Croatian cultural and publishing society Matica Hrvatska organised a round table on Thursday on scientific and cultural ties between Croatia and Croats abroad, and problems preventing the return of a larger number of Croat expatriates to their homeland. The discussion was organised on the occasion of the visit of Jure Prpic, a Croat from the United States, who presented the Croatian edition of his book "Croatians in America" on Wednesday. Prpic said there were 2.5 million Americans of Croatian descent, many of whom were willing to invest their capital in Croatia. He said the publishing of Croatian journals abroad had declined unjustifiably in the last few years, adding that it was necessary to invest in the publishing business and in a higher quality satellite television programme. Matica Hrvatska vice president Stjepan Sucic said it was necessary to publish books about Croatia in foreign languages because many second and third generation Croatians did not know Croatian. Responding to a journalist's question on how Croatia would encourage the return of those Croats who did not have any capital, Assistant Immigration Minister Ante Petric said his ministry would pay all costs for members of such families and their movable property and provide them free accommodation for the first two to three months. Petric said the issue would be regulated by a new law which was in preparation. He said about 150 such people had moved to Croatia this year. (hina) vm jn 201536 MET nov 97