PRAGUE, June 12 (Hina) - Cooperation between Croatia and the Czech Republic in policy is good, however, it is not developed in economy, Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said in Prague Monday. Racan and Czech Prime Minister Milos
Zeman held a press conference. "We discussed how to conduct talks on possibilities of reaching a free trade agreement", Prime Minister Racan said and stressed Croatia was soon joining the World Trade Organisation and was to start negotiations on association and stabilisation with the European Union. Prime Minister Racan said that Croatian and Czech authorised ministries were discussing possibilities of joint projects. When asked why the free trade agreement had not yet been signed, the Czech Prime Minister said a Czech group of experts was established a month ago to solve this problem. Members of the group will hold talks with Croatian colleagues o
PRAGUE, June 12 (Hina) - Cooperation between Croatia and the Czech
Republic in policy is good, however, it is not developed in economy,
Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said in Prague Monday.
Racan and Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman held a press
conference.
"We discussed how to conduct talks on possibilities of reaching a
free trade agreement", Prime Minister Racan said and stressed
Croatia was soon joining the World Trade Organisation and was to
start negotiations on association and stabilisation with the
European Union.
Prime Minister Racan said that Croatian and Czech authorised
ministries were discussing possibilities of joint projects.
When asked why the free trade agreement had not yet been signed, the
Czech Prime Minister said a Czech group of experts was established a
month ago to solve this problem.
Members of the group will hold talks with Croatian colleagues on the
issue, Zeman said and refused to speculate about the date of the
signing of the agreement.
Racan stressed Czech tourists were to be given a credit for the
establishment of the Croatian tourism and added he held talks with
Zeman on bringing tourism cooperation to the level of better
quality.
When asked about Croatia's standpoints toward Czech tourists,
Racan said Croatia was happy to host them. "Negative attitude and
hesitations from several years ago must not happen again", Racan
said and added it was time to demonstrate possibilities of joint
investments in tourism projects.
The two Prime Ministers discussed Croatia's clearing debt toward
the Czech Republic, which amounts to $2.9 million.
According to Racan, Croatia pledged to pay the debt as soon as
possible via tourism or other ways. This could take place by Zeman's
visit to Croatia.
The Czech Prime Minister accepted the invitation to visit
Croatia's.
The announcements of Prime Minister Racan will enable Czech
investors to participate in the privatisation of tourist objects in
Croatia, he added. Zeman said during his visit to Croatia, he would
be accompanied Czech entrepreneurs.
The two prime ministers also discussed problems the two governments
had after the change in authority.
Zeman welcomed Croatia's transfer from the autocratic to
democratic regime.
Racan and Zeman tackled integration processes, namely the two
countries' joining NATO and the European Union. "Given that our
Czech colleagues are ahead of us, their experience is of an interest
to us", Racan stressed.
Zeman stressed that the European Union adopted the principle in
line with which any country could become a member regardless of the
time of submitting a request for association.
The Czech Prime Minister assessed that the exchange of information
on integration process would be useful for both parties.
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