CRO DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RADIC MEETS HOLY SEE SECRETARY

ROME, May 19 (Hina) - Croatian Deputy Prime Minister, Jure Radic, today met the Holy See secretary for relations with governments, Jean-Louis Tauran. The pair discussed bilateral relations between the two states, including the agreements that were in preparation. These agreeements are to deal with economic issues, the financing of the Catholic Church in Croatia, pastoral work in the army, education and culture, and certain legal issues. Radic spoke of the latest events in Croatia, especially the situation in western Slavonia. According to a statement issued by the Croatian embassy to the Holy See, "Tauran supported Croatia's just struggle for the freedom of all its territories and encouraged President Tudjman's efforts to achieve their peaceful reintegration." Touran expressed satisfaction with the present relations between Croatia and the Holy See, the statement said. He also voiced his concern over the "persecution of Croatian Catholics in the Banja Luka diocese" in Bosnia. (hina) jn as 192046 MET may 95