FM PICULA HOLDS TALKS WITH BECHTEL REPRESENTATIVES

ZAGREB, June 16 (Hina) - Croatia's Foreign Minister Tonino Picula on Friday held talks with representatives of United States company Bechtel. The talks addressed a project for the construction of one European road connection from Budapest, Hungary, across Bosnia- Herzegovina, to Ploce, southernmost Croatia, and an Adriatic- Ionian highway project. The Bechtel delegation comprised the company's vice president, Charles Redman, director for Europe Dan Marshal and vice president Denis Garetthy. According to a statement from the Croatian Foreign Ministry, Minister Picula conveyed Croatia's willingness to support the project which would connect the region through the Vc (Budapest- Osijek-Sarajevo-Ploce) corridor. Bechtel's Redman said the company viewed this important infrastructure project as a means of road as well as political connecting, with influence on the stability of the region. Foreign Minister Picula defined the Adriatic-Ionian highway as a project of the future, and called on Bechtel's representatives to finance or co-finance feasibility studies for the project. Redman said Bechtel was interested in the Adriatic-Ionian project, explaining the company's managers were in touch with the governments of other interested countries, and that a decision on involvement in the project would ensue soon. (hina) ha jn