BUDAPEST, May 23 (Hina) - Croatia and Hungary signed a visa system agreement in Budapest on Tuesday enabling the two countries' citizens to cross the Croatian-Hungarian border with identity cards alone.
BUDAPEST, May 23 (Hina) - Croatia and Hungary signed a visa system
agreement in Budapest on Tuesday enabling the two countries'
citizens to cross the Croatian-Hungarian border with identity
cards alone.#L#
The agreement was signed by the two prime ministers, Croatia's
Ivica Racan and Hungary's Viktor Orban, and should come into force
on July 1 with a note exchange between the two governments.
"Besides access to NATO and the EU (European Union), cooperation
with neighbouring countries is of strategic importance for
Croatia, and cooperation with Hungary a priority," Racan told
reporters after signing the agreement. He added he was very
satisfied with the results of talks the two government delegations
had today.
Racan and Orban headed the talks which addressed concrete
programmes of economic cooperation, in particular joint
investments in the Croatian port of Rijeka and the modernisation of
the Rijeka-Budapest railroad, as well as cultural cooperation and
the position of national minorities.
The two government delegations agreed to reactivate Ganz Port, a
joint company through which joint investments would be made into
the construction of a Rijeka port terminal.
According to Premier Racan, European financial institutions are
expected to assist in the modernisation of the Rijeka-Budapest
railroad. Hungary's Orban said it was agreed the two countries'
competent ministries would draft a joint programme for the
construction of a fast railroad.
It was also agreed that by 2003, both Croatia and Hungary should
each complete its part of the work on the construction of a highway
connecting Rijeka and Budapest.
The two delegations agreed on a tentative draft of a free trade
agreement, on which negotiations will resume on May 31 and June 1.
According to Croatian Deputy Premier Slavko Linic, who took part in
today's talks, Hungary is interested in participating in the
privatisation of Croatian companies.
Hungary's Premier Orban reminded that two years ago, Central
European countries opted for strategic partnership with Croatia
and its integration with international structures. "The next step
in that cooperation would be the inclusion of Croatia into the
Hungary-Italy-Slovenia trilateral group," he said.
Asked by the press on the possible merging of Croatia's and
Hungary's oil companies INA and MOL, Croatian Premier Racan said it
would be on the agenda after INA's upcoming reorganisation.
Discussing the Croatian national minority in Hungary and Hungary's
in Croatia, the two premiers proposed the establishment of a
foundation which would provide reciprocal scholarships for
minorities' students.
Racan and Orban today harmonised a joint statement on commitment to
the development of good neighbourly relations, economic and
regional cooperation, and integration with Euro-Atlantic
structures.
The Croatian premier today also held talks with Hungary's President
Arpad Goenz, discussing the two countries' experience in
privatisation and economic and regional cooperation.
Besides Racan and Linic, the Croatian delegation included Economy
Minister Goranko Fizulic and Agriculture and Forestry Minister
Bozidar Pankretic. They ended their two-day visit to Hungary by
laying a wreath by a monument to Hungary's heroes.
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