PRESIDENT MESIC OPENS INTERNATIONAL WINE FAIR IN ORAHOVICA

ORAHOVICA, March 14 (Hina) - Economy needs fairs because they stimulate producers to increase production and the quality of their products, which is what Croatia needs very much, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said on Wednesday at the opening of the 8th international fair of viticulture, wine industry and fruit growing "Slavin 2001" in the eastern Croatian town of Orahovica. Some 200 wine-makers and producers of equipment for viticulture and fruit growing will present their products on some 600 square metres of in-door and 500 square metres of out-door area. Answering reporters' questions about the situation on the border between Macedonia and Kosovo, Mesic said those developments were not only Macedonia's problem. "The international community should help resolve open questions in the wider region. Should this situation persist, it could affect our tourism because for foreign guests the situation is treacherous not only in Macedonia but in the entire region. However, I believe the situation will improve by the start of the tourist season," he concluded. Later in the afternoon, Mesic visited a local furniture factory. (hina) rml