ZAGREB, June 6 (Hina) - Croatia's clearing debt to the Czech Republic amounts to US$2.5 million but Croatia does not want to settle the debt by granting the Czech Republic ownership rights in Croatian hotels, Croatian Prime Minister
Ivica Racan said in Zagreb on Wednesday after talks with his Czech counterpart Milos Zeman. The Czech Prime Minister, who is heading a Czech Republic delegation, on Wednesday started a three-day official visit to Croatia, during which he will also visit the southern Adriatic town of Dubrovnik. "We want to settle the clearing debt in the form of money and not in the form of ownership relations in tourism, but we stimulate and urge cooperation with the Czech Republic regarding their possible investments in our tourism", Racan told reporters at a joint press conference held after the talks. The way of settling the clearing debt is the issue of an agreement signed by the two pri
ZAGREB, June 6 (Hina) - Croatia's clearing debt to the Czech
Republic amounts to US$2.5 million but Croatia does not want to
settle the debt by granting the Czech Republic ownership rights in
Croatian hotels, Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said in Zagreb
on Wednesday after talks with his Czech counterpart Milos Zeman.
The Czech Prime Minister, who is heading a Czech Republic
delegation, on Wednesday started a three-day official visit to
Croatia, during which he will also visit the southern Adriatic town
of Dubrovnik.
"We want to settle the clearing debt in the form of money and not in
the form of ownership relations in tourism, but we stimulate and
urge cooperation with the Czech Republic regarding their possible
investments in our tourism", Racan told reporters at a joint press
conference held after the talks.
The way of settling the clearing debt is the issue of an agreement
signed by the two prime minister before the joint press conference.
Apart from this agreement, also signed was an agreement on the two
countries' cooperation in culture, education and science.
According to Racan, the talks also focused on improving economic
cooperation, because both sides are not satisfied with the current
exchange of US$200 million.
Thus, the signing of a free trade agreement with the Czech Republic
is to take place in the near future.
The Czech Republic is interested in the privatisation process in
Croatia, and the two prime ministers discussed cooperation in
tourism and transportation as well as the role of the Czech Republic
in the revitalisation of the northern Adriatic port of Rijeka.
Zeman told reporters that apart from political and economic
relations, they also discussed the two countries' cultural
relations which have a long tradition.
The Czech Prime Minister reiterated his country's full support to
efforts Croatia was investing in the process of approaching the
European Union and NATO.
Primer Zeman also held talks with Croatia parliament speaker Zlatko
Tomcic and opened an economic forum in the Croatia Chamber of
Commerce.
The Czech Republic and Croatia will conduct their business
activities in a free trade zone as of January 1, 2002, president of
the Croatian Chamber of Commerce Nadan Vidosevic said during the
meeting with the Czech Prime Minister. Croatia and the Czech
Republic initialled a free trade agreement in Zagreb on April 27,
2001. The signing of the agreement is scheduled to take place in
June, while it should come into force on January 1, 2002.
During the talks with Croatian and Czech businessmen, Prime
Minister Zeman said him and the Croatian Prime Minister discussed
possibilities of privatising great tourist buildings previously
owned by the former Yugoslav Army.
Later today, the Czech Prime Minister will be received by the
Croatian President Stipe Mesic.
(hina) it sb