ZAGREB, June 17 (Hina) - Significant progress has been made in relations between Croatia and Albania since the beginning of this year, and this has particularly reflected in trade, which could triple in 2002, Croatian Foreign Minister
Tonino Picula said after meeting his Albanian counterpart Arta Dade in Zagreb on Monday.
ZAGREB, June 17 (Hina) - Significant progress has been made in
relations between Croatia and Albania since the beginning of this
year, and this has particularly reflected in trade, which could
triple in 2002, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said after
meeting his Albanian counterpart Arta Dade in Zagreb on Monday.
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"Last year's trade amounted to less than 12 million US dollars, and
according to current forecasts, this year's Croatia-Albania trade
should amount to 40 million dollars," Picula said.
Croatia can help Albania in the sector of transport and power
production, as well as in the farming and pharmaceutical
industries, he said.
Picula was glad that today's meeting was held only six months after
his visit to Tirana, which he said proved the two countries were
aware that bilateral cooperation was an important element of their
foreign policies.
"Albania and Croatia are included in the process of stabilisation
and association, and for the process to be successful, we have to
promote and develop bilateral cooperation," Picula said.
The Croatian minister commended the conduct of the Albanian
government in various traumatic processes and conflicts in the
region over the past year, and expressed confidence the two
countries would contribute to the policy of stabilisation and good
neighbourly relations in South-East Europe.
Describing the cooperation between the two countries as exemplary,
Albanian Foreign Minister Dade said her country was also interested
in any kind of non-government cooperation, including cooperation
among businessmen, scientists, and non-government organisations.
She said that the agreement on trade, which would be signed soon,
would significantly facilitate the economic cooperation, and
called for facilitating the movement of people, especially with
regard to air and maritime transport.
She thanked the Croatian authorities for support in overcoming last
winter's power crisis, as well as for assistance in negotiations
with the European Union.
The Albanian official is also to meet Parliament President Zlatko
Tomcic and First Deputy Prime Minister Drazen Budisa.
(hina) rml