LISBON: CROATIA, PORTUGAL HOLD TALKS ON MARKET LIBERALISATION

LISBON, March 23 (Hina) - Senior Croatian officials visiting Lisbon on Friday held talks with top officials of Portugal's foreign and agriculture ministries on the course of Croatia's negotiations with the European Union, and on specific issues in the process which are of interest to Portugal. The Croatian delegation included Neven Mimica, chief negotiator for the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, and Miroslav Bozic, the deputy agriculture minister, the Croatian Embassy in Lisbon said. In the EU enlargement process, Portugal is very interested in protecting its interests as a significant manufacturer of wines, Mediterranean agricultural goods, fish and fish products. During today's talks, the Croatian negotiators stressed the importance of the so-called transitional period, of three to six years, for the liberalisation of the Croatian market for the most sensitive products. Both sides agreed today the remaining open issues would be resolved in a friendly spirit and Lisbon's full political support to Croatia's integration into European structures. (hina) ha sb