DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL

ZAGREB, Jan 16 (Hina) - Croatia's Deputy Foreign Minister Vesna Cvjetkovic-Kurelec on Tuesday held talks with Austrian Foreign Ministry chief secretary Albert Rohan on bilateral issues and Croatia's negotiations with the European Union. According to a statement from the Croatian Foreign Ministry, the two sides agreed bilateral relations were good and voiced the intention to advance strategic partnership in view of helping Croatia's negotiations with the EU and the realisation of the CARDS programme. Cvjetkovic-Kurelec briefed Rohan about a visit the chief prosecutor with UN's war crimes tribunal in The Hague, Carla del Ponte, paid to Zagreb yesterday. Rohan said Austria was satisfied the Croatian side's talks with del Ponte had been successful, and reiterated his country's stance that it was necessary to have an equal position towards the prosecution of all crimes committed on the territory of the former Yugoslav federation. The two officials agreed on stepping up the ratification of an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation, as well as to cooperate in drafting an agreement on cooperation in case of disasters. (hina) ha