ZAGREB FRIDAY ZAGREB, Jan 16 (Hina) - The prime ministers of Italy, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia will meet in Zagreb on Friday to discuss all aspects of regional cooperation.
ZAGREB, Jan 16 (Hina) - The prime ministers of Italy, Hungary,
Slovenia and Croatia will meet in Zagreb on Friday to discuss all
aspects of regional cooperation. #L#
Prime Ministers Silvio Berlusconi, Peter Medgyessy, Anton Rop and
Ivica Racan respectively will debate a number of issues, including
cooperation in defence and peace-keeping operations,
infrastructure projects and the strengthening of trade relations,
unofficial sources said.
The agenda of this so-called quadrilateral group will also include
minority protection issues, environment protection and
cooperation in culture, education and scientific research, as well
as cooperation in combating organised crime.
After the meeting, the four premiers are expected to give a joint
statement and hold a news conference.
The meeting will provide an opportunity for Italy, as the only
member of the European Union in the group, to voice support for the
other three countries' bids to join Euro-Atlantic associations.
Croatia's Racan and Slovenia's Rop will use the occasion for their
first bilateral meeting at which they are expected to discuss all
open issues.
At the end of the meeting the four premiers will meet Croatian
President Stjepan Mesic at a working dinner.
The quadrilateral group for regional co-operation was established
in September 2000, when Croatia joined the trilateral group Italy-
Slovenia-Hungary. This group was founded at Italy's initiative in
1996.
(hina) ms