CONFERENCE ON SOUTHEAST EUROPE'S RELATIONS WITH WTO OPENS

BUDAPEST, April 5 (Hina) - The aim of the "Southeast Europe and the World Trade Organisation" two-day conference is to incite relations between the WTO and countries in the region, and to help eliminate trade and investment barriers, Hungary's Foreign Minister Janos Martony said in Budapest on Wednesday. The Croatian delegation attending the conference, which opened today, is headed by Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic. The aim of the conference is to strengthen the region's countries' awareness of the role the WTO plays in world economy, and to provide more insight into topics the WTO will pay special attention to in the future, Croatia's Deputy Economy Minister Neven Mimica said in a brief statement to Hina. Croatia's attendance is a sign of its determination to join the WTO, Mimica said. Speaking about the prospects of Croatia's access to the WTO in the near future, Mimica said the process, which stalled on the issue of audio-visual services, was nearing denouement thanks to the flexibility of the United States position. If an agreement is reached with the European Union, the third partner in the negotiations, by the end of the month, Croatia might join the WTO at the May 3 session of WTO's Head Council, Mimica said. (hina) ha mm