CROATIA AND SRI LANKA SIGN PROTOCOL ON CONSULTATIONS

COLOMBO, Nov 18 (Hina) - Croatia and Sri Lanka signed a Protocol on Consultations between the two countries' foreign ministries in Colombo on Monday, the last day of the three-day visit of Croatian President Stjepan Mesic to Sri Lanka. #L# The Protocol, by which the two countries agreed to hold regular consultations in Zagreb and Sri Lanka on bilateral issues an regional and international issues of mutual interest was signed by Croatian Deputy Economy Minister Vesna Cvjetkovic Kurelec and Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando. Fernando held talks with President Mesic on Monday morning. He said he had informed Mesic about the peace process which had been successfully agreed on at the beginning of the year. Since both sides now support the peace process, Fernando said he was more optimistic about sustainable peace than he had been before. The signing of the Protocol followed talks between the Croatian delegation and the hosts led by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe. The two countries in 2001 signed an agreement on cooperation between the two countries' governments in the struggle against international drug trafficking, international terrorism and organised crime. The two countries are preparing agreements on stimulating and protecting investments, avoiding double taxation, air traffic and the establishment of a joint committee. (hina) lml