CROATIA WANTS BETTER COOPERATION WITH VISEGRAD GROUP COUNTRIES

ZAGREB, Feb 18 (Hina) - Croatia wants to improve its cooperation with the Visegrad group countries, which it considers friendly countries, Croatian Premier Ivica Racan said in Zagreb on Friday. Racan made this statement following a meeting with the heads of state of the Visegrad group countries - Poland's Alexandar Kwasniewski, Hungary's Arpad Goenz, the Czech Republic's Vaclav Havel and Slovakia's Rudolf Schuster. "Croatia's links with these four countries are more numerous than I can state now," Racan said, adding the presence of the four presidents at the inauguration of the new Croatian President Stjepan Mesic enhanced the importance of the event. "We appreciate it and we will show our appreciation in our cooperation with those countries in the coming period," Racan said. Poland's President Kwasniewski welcomed changes in Croatia and invited the country to join the Central European Free Trade Association (CEFTA). "I am sure we can open a new chapter in our relations," the Polish President said. Before today's inauguration ceremony Racan also met Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski, Turkey's President Suleyman Demirel, the President of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegovic, and Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Lena Hjea-Wallen. (hina) mm rml