IMF MISSION BEGINS THREE-DAY VISIT TO CROATIA

ZAGREB, Feb 22 (Hina) - An International Monetary Fund mission on Thursday began a three-day official visit to Croatia with talks in the National Bank of Croatia (NBH) to prepare a new cooperation program. The IMF delegates headed by Robert Feldman and senior NBH officials led by Governor Pero Jurkovic described the program as "a program of extended cooperation." The program would last three years and would mainly concentrate on the rehabilitation and structural changes of the Croatian banking, fiscal, pension and health systems, and public and other important companies, an NBH statement said. It was agreed that Croatia had recorded exceptionally good results in bringing down inflation and stabilizing the exchange rate of its currency. The NBH officials informed the guests of the most important measures that the NBH and the government had taken or prepared to rehabilitate banks and improve the financial system. (hina) lm jn 221748 MET feb 96