HAIDER: CARINTHIA IDEAL PARTNER FOR CROATIA

ZAGREB, Oct 18 (Hina) - The Austrian Federal Region of Carinthia with its environment protection policies, economic innovations and cross-border co-operation is an ideal partner for ambitious development in a young country like Croatia, the Country Head of Carinthia Joerg Haider said in Zagreb on Friday evening. #L# Speaking at the 7th Croatian forum "Croatia 21 - Regional and Global Sustainable Development", Haider said that south-east Europe has been unnaturally cut off from its space and that co-operation between Croatia and Carinthia was in the mutual interest for both regions but also in the interest of political progress of the entire Alpe-Adriatic region. Small spaces are fascinating. They have huge opportunities for political, cultural and any other form of viability, cross-border co-operation is of exceptional significance and you need to have trust in your partners, Haider said. He estimated that smaller countries endeavour to nurture the spirit of equal partnership in their relations and not like larger countries that act from a position of power. Relations between Austria and Croatia carry no fear of colonialism, the first man of Carinthia noted. He expressed support for environment protection structures in the two regions pointing out that with its experience, Carinthia paid particular attention to water. Carinthia's experience in water filtering could be very useful to Croatia. We together with Slovenia and northern Italy can appear on the market and do a great service to our economies, Haider said. He did not omit to point out the significance of preserving one's regional identity with the simultaneous integration of European development prospects as the foundation of the general idea of "Europe of the region and Europe of citizens, which met with applause and general approval from his audience. (hina) sp ms