CROATIAN PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES GERMAN AMBASSADOR

MATESA, Oct 8 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa on Tuesday received the newly-appointed German Ambassador to Croatia, Volker Haak. Matesa said that the relations between Croatia and Germany were friendly despite possible differences regarding certain issues. He added that Croatia saw Germany as a chief political and economic partner. Haak said that Germany supported Croatia's bid for membership in the Council of Europe. Speaking of the UN-administered area of eastern Croatia, Haak warned that Garmany would hardly have any understanding for a possible dispute between Croatia and UNTAES or a new wave of refugees from the area. Matesa said that Croatia would continue to be patient, stressing that it was very hard to explain to Croatian people that Croatia was partly financing the UNTAES mission and that not a single Croatian displaced person had returned to the area. (hina) vm jn 081626 MET oct 96