ZAGREB ZAGREB, April 7 (Hina) - The linking of oil pipelines between Croatia and Russia by installing a special transit corridor (via Belorussia, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary and Croatia), the increase of the natural gas supply to
Croatia, and cooperation in the construction of a station for reloading oil products are the most promising directions of future economic cooperation between the two countries, Russian Economy Minister Andrei Shapovalyants said in Zagreb on Friday. Cooperation in construction and agriculture is also among those directions, Shapovalyants said, opening the second meeting of a Croatian-Russian government commission for cooperation in trade and economy and science and technology. Croatian Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic said the two countries were traditional partners and their economic cooperation would continue to develop. Croatia expects to become a member of
ZAGREB, April 7 (Hina) - The linking of oil pipelines between
Croatia and Russia by installing a special transit corridor (via
Belorussia, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary and Croatia), the increase of
the natural gas supply to Croatia, and cooperation in the
construction of a station for reloading oil products are the most
promising directions of future economic cooperation between the
two countries, Russian Economy Minister Andrei Shapovalyants said
in Zagreb on Friday.
Cooperation in construction and agriculture is also among those
directions, Shapovalyants said, opening the second meeting of a
Croatian-Russian government commission for cooperation in trade
and economy and science and technology.
Croatian Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic said the two countries
were traditional partners and their economic cooperation would
continue to develop. Croatia expects to become a member of the World
Trade Organisation on May 3 this year, and it expects to sign a free
trade agreement with most of CEFTA member-countries by the end of
this year. In the first half of 2001 Croatia expects to sign an
agreement with the European Union, Fizulic said, adding those
documents would positively affect cooperation between Croatia and
Russia.
The Russian official said the cooperation between the two countries
in the past two years had expanded to the area of transport, and
voiced support for the expansion of cooperation to maritime and
river transport and for the further development of military-
technical and shipbuilding cooperation.
Shapovalyants said the two governments and competent ministries
should take measures for balancing foreign trade relations.
In coming years Russia could import more medicines and deliver
larger natural gas supplies to Croatia, especially in summer
months, the Russian minister said, adding the gas supply Russia had
delivered to Croatia last year amounted to 1.2 billion cubic meters
whereas oil supply amounted to four million tonnes.
Speaking about the regulation of Russia's debts toward former
Yugoslav states, Shapovalyants said there were different
interpretations as to the amount of the debt toward individual
states. He suggested that the former Yugoslav states reach an
agreement on the amount, adding Russia supported the idea of a
multilateral agreement with the former Yugoslav republics.
In the past decade Croatia lost the race with countries in
transition, but it now wants to compensate for it, Fizulic said.
He also announced that the privatisation of the banking sector,
'Croatia osiguranje' insurance company, Croatian Power Industry
(HEP), and Croatian Oil Industry (INA) would continue this and next
year, and that a power strategy for the next ten years would be drawn
up.
(hina) rml