CRO CULTURE MINISTER HOLDS TALKS WITH FOREIGN AMBASSADORS ON COOPERATION IN CULTURE

ZAGREB, March 6 (Hina) - Croatian Culture Minister Antun Vujic on Monday received ambassadors of Portugal, Bulgaria and Italy and held talks on cultural cooperation between Croatia and the three countries, the Culture Ministry reported. Portuguese Ambassador to Croatia Ana Barata pointed to good cultural cooperation between Portugal and Croatia, and proposed several culture programmes, including the visit of Lisabon's ensemble of old music to Zagreb. Vujic said that a draft for the programme of cooperation in culture, education, and science was made and will be forwarded to Portugal in the near future, the statement read. In the talks with Bulgarian Ambassador Velizar Encev, the Croatian Minister said that the harmonisation of the programme of cooperation in culture, education and science for a period between 2000 and 2002 was in the process and that the signing of the programme would take place in Bulgaria in May. Encev said that Bulgarian restorers were ready to participate in the reconstruction in the eastern Croatian town of Vukovar, read the statement. Italian Ambassador to Croatian Fabio Pigliapoco said that cultural cooperation between Italy and Croatia was important for both countries, and expressed hope on Italy's behalf that Croatia's culture be even more exposed in Italy. Pigliapoco and Vujic believe that the programme of cooperation in culture and education between the two countries should be signed as soon as possible, as well as the international agreement on cultural cooperation, the statement read. (hina) it mm