ZAGREB, May 22 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Wednesday met with Austrian President Thomas Klestil, who is heading a numerous state delegation visiting Croatia, the Croatian government said in a statement.
ZAGREB, May 22 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on
Wednesday met with Austrian President Thomas Klestil, who is
heading a numerous state delegation visiting Croatia, the Croatian
government said in a statement. #L#
The officials discussed European Union expansion and the
importance of infrastructure projects.
Klestil supported Croatia in its bids to associate with European
and world structures. Both sides expressed satisfaction with
current economic and political relations.
Deputy PM Slavko Linic met Austrian Economy Minister Martin
Bartenstein, the vice president of the Austrian Chamber of
Commerce, Adolf Moser, and a 44-member business delegation.
This is the largest Austrian economic delegation to visit Croatia
to date. The high interest is the result of the big confidence in the
potential of the Croatian economy, it was said. Talks tackled
cooperation in tourism, privatisation in the power and insurance
sectors, and the food-processing industry.
Austria's direct investments in Croatia in 2001 amounted to two
billion euros, said Bartenstein. He pointed to the historic,
geographical, and economic connections between the two countries.
Austria was the first country to ratify Croatia's Stabilisation and
Association Agreement with the EU. Austria will support Croatia's
request for full EU membership, the government statement said.
8hina) ha sb