BRATISLAVA, Sept 14 (Hina) - The prime ministers of Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) countries at a summit in Bratislava on Saturday expressed the wish that Croatia be admitted to this organisation by the end of the
year.
BRATISLAVA, Sept 14 (Hina) - The prime ministers of Central
European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) countries at a summit in
Bratislava on Saturday expressed the wish that Croatia be admitted
to this organisation by the end of the year. #L#
The prime ministers welcome the fact that negotiations on Croatia's
admission to the CEFTA are almost over, and urge all participants to
accelerate the preparation of all documents and invest every effort
so that the agreement on Croatia's membership may be signed by
year's end, read the summit's final declaration.
Croatia today removed the last obstacle to its entry into the CEFTA
by wrapping up negotiations on the signing of a free trade agreement
with Romania.
Addressing the summit on Croatia's behalf, Deputy Prime Minister
Slavko Linic stressed the economic importance the CEFTA has in the
region.
"Croatia sees the significance and role of the CEFTA as a regional
trade organisation in the further strengthening and encouragement
of trade among the countries of central and east Europe, as well as
in the deepening and expansion of cooperation to other economic
sectors," said Linic.
Membership in the CEFTA will give Croatian economy access to the
central European market with fewer barriers and more joint
programmes, Linic said.
He stated the CEFTA was also important as a preparation for
membership in the European Union.
Linic suggested the agreement on Croatia's membership be formally
signed in Zagreb at the ministerial level later this year.
Slovak Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda said that membership in the
CEFTA gave each member a chance to develop their economy and improve
foreign trade.
This year the CEFTA is chaired by Slovakia.
(hina) ha