ZAGREB, April 3 (Hina) - Macedonia and Croatia may serve as a model for the development of good relations between countries in a still unstable region, Macedonia's Foreign Minister Aleksandar Dimitrov said in Zagreb on Monday
following talks with Croatian President Stipe Mesic. During his day-long visit to Croatia, Minister Dimitrov held talks with Croatia's Foreign Minister Tonino Picula, Premier Ivica Racan, parliament vice president Vlatko Pavletic, and members of parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs. "Macedonia and Croatia, as countries in a region which still isn't stable, may represent an example of good relations among countries in the region, (an example of) economic co-operation and realisation of tasks which are part of the Stability Pact (for Southeast Europe)," Dimitrov told the press. The Dimitrov-Mesic talks tackled the common strategic goal, access to Euro-Atlantic insti
ZAGREB, April 3 (Hina) - Macedonia and Croatia may serve as a model
for the development of good relations between countries in a still
unstable region, Macedonia's Foreign Minister Aleksandar Dimitrov
said in Zagreb on Monday following talks with Croatian President
Stipe Mesic.
During his day-long visit to Croatia, Minister Dimitrov held talks
with Croatia's Foreign Minister Tonino Picula, Premier Ivica
Racan, parliament vice president Vlatko Pavletic, and members of
parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs.
"Macedonia and Croatia, as countries in a region which still isn't
stable, may represent an example of good relations among countries
in the region, (an example of) economic co-operation and
realisation of tasks which are part of the Stability Pact (for
Southeast Europe)," Dimitrov told the press.
The Dimitrov-Mesic talks tackled the common strategic goal, access
to Euro-Atlantic institutions. On this path, Macedonia has
preceded Croatia for the time being.
"In two days, the Republic of Macedonia commences negotiations on
the agreement on stabilisation and association (with the European
Union," the Macedonian minister said.
He voiced hope Croatia as well would soon start negotiations on the
agreement.
Possibilities of Macedonian-Croatian co-operation open in various
fields, in economy in particular, Dimitrov stated. He and Mesic
also talked ways of making economic reach the excellent level of
political co-operation.
Croatia and Macedonia in May 1997 signed a free trade agreement, but
even though the two countries' economies complement each other,
present trade is small despite all conditions for it to grow. In
1999, Croatia ranked eighth among Macedonia's trade partners,
accounting for a mere 7.02 percent in export-import.
Minister Dimitrov assessed his "brief" but "successful and very
substantial" visit to Croatia, made just ahead of the Croatian
President's visit to Macedonia, had been in line with the
"outstandingly good relations between Croatia and Macedonia."
(hina) ha mm