ZAGREB, Dec 13 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula, who is on a several-day visit to the Near East, on Friday met in Beirut with the highest officials of Lebanon. A protocol was signed on cooperation between the foreign
ministries of both countries.
ZAGREB, Dec 13 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula,
who is on a several-day visit to the Near East, on Friday met in
Beirut with the highest officials of Lebanon. A protocol was signed
on cooperation between the foreign ministries of both countries.
#L#
Picula met with President Emile Lahouda, parliamentary president
Nabih Berry, Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and Foreign Minister
Mahmoud Hamoud.
Talks addressed bilateral relations as well as the situation in the
region. In light of the events in Iraq, concern was expressed over
regional security because Lebanon has only now recovered from the
consequences of a 17-year civil war, Minister Picula told Hina in a
phone interview on Friday evening.
Picula later joined a Croatian business delegation headed by the
president of the Chamber of Commerce, Nadan Vidosevic, and
representatives from the INA and INGRA companies.
"Trade, even though it goes in favour of Croatia, is quite small and
amounts to a mere US$4.5 million. The Croatian Chamber of Commerce
and Lebanon's Federation of Commerce Chambers signed an agreement
on cooperation," Picula said.
During the talks with Economy and Trade Minister Bassel Fayham, an
agreement was signed between the two governments relating to
cooperation in this field.
Minister Picula invited the president and premier of Lebanon to
visit Croatia.
(hina) sp/ha sb