GREEK PRESIDENT ENDS HIS VISIT TO CROATIA

ZAGREB, May 25 (Hina) - Greek President Constantin Stephanopoulos on Friday wrapped up his three-day state visit to Croatia with his tour to the southern coastal town of Dubrovnik.#L# The Greek head of state arrived in Croatia at the invitation of his Croatian counterpart Stjepan Mesic. This was the reciprocal visit of the Greek President three years after the then Croatian President Franjo Tudjman paid an official visit to Athens. Political relations between Croatia and Greece are ascending and have reached a high level, but Croatia would like to see the same level in the economic cooperation, Croatia's Mesic said on Wednesday when Stephanopoulos arrived in Zagreb. The visit of Stephanopoulos is the first visit of Greek President to independent Croatia, as well as the first visit of the president of a EU member-country after Croatia initialled a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union. Croatia and Greece are member-countries of the South-Eastern European Cooperation Process (SEECP) and very active in the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative which Croatia chaired in the last six months and was succeeded by Greece at Initiative's meeting held in Spilt on Thursday and Friday. The aim of the initiative, launched in the Italian port of Ancona a year ago, is to create frameworks for joint projects in the area of the Adriatic and Ionian seas. During the first day of Stephanopoulos' visit to Zagreb, the two countries signed an agreement on maritime traffic. On Thursday Stephanopoulus held meetings with Premier Ivica Racan and Sabor Speaker Zlatko Tomcic. He also held a speech in the Croatian Chamber of Commerce where Croatian and Greek business people met. There are no open political issues between Croatia and Greece and they can enhance their economic cooperation, the Greek President said on that occasion. During his visit to the Croatian parliament he confirmed his country's intention of supporting Croatia's bids to enter the EU wherever it is possible. (hina) ms