ZAGREB HOSTS EUROPEAN TRANSPORT WORKERS FEDERATION'S CONGRESS

ZAGREB, May 17 (Hina) - Four hundred representatives from 38 European countries gathered in Zagreb on Thursday for the first regular congress of the European Transport Workers' Federation. #L# The congress, which is taking place at Zagreb's "Sheraton" hotel, was opened by Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, who welcomed participants in the first international union congress to be organised in Croatia. Croatia has the potential to develop transport, Mesic said reminding that important road, railway and air corridors passed through Croatia and that its ports were favourably situated. Modern tourism can be developed only if roads are modern and Croatia holds highways running toward the coast and the Adriatic-Ionian initiative particularly important, he said. The gathered were also welcomed by the president of the Croatian Union of Maritime Workers, Vladimir Svalina, a representative of the National Coordination Committee of Croatian Transport Unions. The National Coordination Committee gathers five Croatian unions of railway, maritime and air transport workers and is a member of the International Transport Workers' Federation, which has over six million members all over the world. During the two-day event, the representatives will elect new leaders and discuss social dialogue on the level of European Union countries and EU enlargement. Particularly important for Croatian transport unions is a discussion about Corridors 5 and 10, which run through Croatia, and cooperation between the transport unions of the countries the two corridors run through. (hina) rml