DEPUTY MINISTER ANNOUNCES TALKS ON FREE TRADE WITH YUGOSLAVIA

NOVI SAD, May 15 (Hina) - Talks on a free trade agreement between Croatia and Yugoslavia should start in the very near future and it is realistic to expect the two countries to sign a free trade agreement by the end of this year, Croatia's Deputy Agriculture and Forestry Minister Tomislav Ledic told Hina on Tuesday. Ledic is on a visit to the International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad. Later in the day, Ledic will meet Yugoslav Agriculture Minister Sasa Vitosevic. One of the topics they will discuss is the start of talks on a free trade agreement. Asked to comment on a large number of Croatian companies participating in the fair and a great interest in Croatian products, Ledic said this was understandable since Croatian companies had made big sales and their products had been recognisable on the territory of today's Yugoslavia before the war. Trade between Croatia and Yugoslavia has been on the increase continually. In the first three months of this year alone, Croatia's exports to Yugoslavia increased several times compared to the same period last year, its last year exports amounting to USD 70 million, Ledic said. (hina) sb rml