CROATIAN, INDONESIAN PRESIDENTS HOLD TALKS

ZAGREB, Sept 10 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic and his Indonesian counterpart Megawati Sukarnoputri said on Tuesday that the two countries' relations were on an ascending line. The Indonesian side welcomed Croatia's support to the integrity of Indonesia. #L# The Indonesian President arrived on Tuesday afternoon on a return two-day visit to Croatia which began with introductory talks with her host, Croatian President Mesic. "We used this occasion to express satisfaction with an ascending line of bilateral relations," Mesic said in his statement to the press. Mesic, who visited Indonesia earlier in the year, said that during the talks they agreed on the need to develop all aspects of bilateral relations primarily in the field of economy. The Croatian president also expressed satisfaction with a Croatia-Indonesia agreement on the promotion and protection of investments between the two countries signed by Croatia's Economy Minister and Indonesia's Minister for Trade and Industry earlier today. Indonesia's President thanked Croatia for its support to Indonesia's territorial wholeness and political unity. Megawati expressed hope that the two countries would increase the exchange in tourism, shipbuilding and goods exchanges. Indonesia can offer Croatia rubber and high quality palm oil. Other topics discussed were the issue of sustainable development in light of the recent world summit in Johannesburg which both presidents attended as well as the global fight against terrorism which both countries supported, Mesic said in the wake of tomorrow's anniversary of the September 11 attack on New York. Megawati Sukarnoputri, the daughter of the founder of the Indonesian Republic became the country's president on July 23, 2001. She will continue her visit on Wednesday by meeting Premier Ivica Racan and parliament President Zlatko Tomcic. (hina) sp it