CROATIA'S CRAFTSMEN EXHIBIT AT SARAJEVO ANNUAL FAIR

SARAJEVO, May 31 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croatian Chamber of Crafts (HOK), who this year appeared at Sarajevo's reconstruction and construction fair for the third time, expect closer cooperation with Bosnia-Herzegovina's craftsmen than in the past. Rudolf Bencek, the chairman of HOK's Fairs and Promotional Activities Committee, said on Wednesday the expected results and cooperation had not been achieved despite optimistic expectations. Speaking about HOK's presentation at the Construction and Reconstruction 2000 fair, Bencek said the Croatian craftsmen's objective was not only to come to BH and sell their product, but to achieve cooperation which will be of mutual use. "We need close business cooperation with craftsmen from BH because it is the only way we can be more successful in joint presentations on third markets," Bencek said, calling on BH's craftsmen to give the offer serious thought. At this year's Sarajevo fair HOK exhibited the products of 36 craftsmen and entrepreneurs, half of whom exhibiting there for the first time. HOK president Karlo Miskovic told a presentation in BH's capital HOK had a 150-year-long tradition and was today a well organised institution with 20 county chambers and 130 craftsmen associations. Croatia's Ambassador to BH Damir Zoric expressed satisfaction with HOK's presentation at the Sarajevo fair, saying it was becoming a tradition. Croatia's craftsmen have proven to be the most vital part of the country's economy, he said. "Despite the economic crisis, the number of craftsmen has risen continually over the past years and now surpassed 100,000." The ambassador said cooperation among craftsmen was of great importance for the overall economic relations between Croatia and BH, despite current difficulties. "The reason for that is primarily the non-existence of an appropriate trade agreement," he said, hoping "this problem too will be resolved in the near future." (hina) ha