CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, ITALIAN PREMIER HOLD TALKS

TRIESTE, Oct 29 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula met Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on the margins of an informal meeting of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative foreign ministers in Italy's Trieste on Tuesday. #L# After the talks, Picula invited Berlusconi to visit Croatia, which the Italian premier accepted. Answering to reporters' questions regarding Italy-Croatia relations, Picula said that Berlusconi's visit to Croatia, which is to take place in the near future, would be proof of the two countries' good relations. The Croatian foreign minister positively assessed the work of a joint Italian-Croatian commission which deals with possible restitution of property to Italian citizens which can be expected considering the Croatian law on denationalisation. Picula also pointed to the fact that Italy is Croatia's first partner in foreign exchange with close to US$2.5 billion in trade of goods and services. Picula said that cooperation was on an ascending line. "Italy is a great investor in Croatia, as well as a promoter of our wish to join Euro-Atlantic associations as soon as possible," Picula said and expressed belief that the Italian parliament would soon ratify the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Croatia and the European Union. Speaking about today's meeting of ministers included in the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, Picula emphasised that this was a very efficient regional initiative, particularly considering the fact that two countries included in the initiative - Greece and Italy - were taking over the chairmanship over the European Union next year. (hina) it sb