ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN SLOVAKIA & CROATIA IMPROVING

ZAGREB/BRATISLAVA, April 22 (Hina) - Economic relations between Croatia and Slovakia are improving and the two countries - which in 1991 signed a free trade agreement - are about to initial an agreement on settling a clearing debt, the countries' finance ministers said in Bratislava on Monday. #L# Croatian Economy Minister Hrvoje Vojkovic and his Slovak counterpart Lubomir Harach opened the fifth meeting of a joint governmental commission for economic co-operation. Minister Vojkovic stressed that the first indicators on the agreement, which had been temporarily applied since 1 January 2002, showed an increase in trade. Croatian exports to Slovakia increased by a total of 16.2 percent compared to the same period last year. Imports from that country have risen 24 percent. Harach estimated that Croatia's accession to the CEFTA (Central European Free Trade Agreement) was particularly important for both countries. Croatia is expected to join the association in mid next year. Vojkovic expressed satisfaction with the completion of negotiations on the agreement on the settling of the clearing debt. (hina) sp sb