JAPAN TO BE MORE PRESENT IN CROATIA IN FUTURE - GRANIC

TOKYO, Dec 16 (Hina) - Croatian-Japanese relations followed "ascending line", and Japan would be certainly "more significantly present" in the Republic of Croatia in the following period, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said after the first round of talks with his Japanese hosts on Monday. "Japan appreciates Croatia's role in the peace process as well as our support to Japan's bid to become a permanent member-country of the U.N. Security Council," Granic said after talks with his Japanese counterpart Yukihiko Ikedo, Parliament President Soichiro Ito and Japanese Foreign Trade Organization President, Toru Toyoshimo. "Japan considers the opening of its embassy in Zagreb. Also, more and more strong Japanese companies would like to be present in Croatia and do business with the country," Croatian Foreign Minister added. (hina) jn mš 161628 MET dec 96