ZAGREB, July 5 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croatian Economy Ministry and the Dutch Foreign Trade Ministry signed in Zagreb on Wednesday a letter of intent on concluding a memorandum on understanding on a east European cooperation
programme. Negotiations on the memorandum, which refers to a three-year period, would kick off in the autumn. The Dutch government will grant Croatia 60 million kuna (US$7.5 million) for the memorandum, Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Gerrit Ybema said after signing the letter. Deputy Economy Minister Neven Mimica signed the letter on Croatia's behalf. Deputy Prime Minister Slavko Linic was in attendance. Mimica recalled that 30 million kuna were available for a 1998-2000 technical assistance and cooperation programme. Dutch Minister Ybema said his government would further strengthen political and economic ties with Croatia, as concre
ZAGREB, July 5 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croatian Economy
Ministry and the Dutch Foreign Trade Ministry signed in Zagreb on
Wednesday a letter of intent on concluding a memorandum on
understanding on a east European cooperation programme.
Negotiations on the memorandum, which refers to a three-year
period, would kick off in the autumn. The Dutch government will
grant Croatia 60 million kuna (US$7.5 million) for the memorandum,
Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Gerrit Ybema said after signing the
letter.
Deputy Economy Minister Neven Mimica signed the letter on Croatia's
behalf. Deputy Prime Minister Slavko Linic was in attendance.
Mimica recalled that 30 million kuna were available for a 1998-2000
technical assistance and cooperation programme.
Dutch Minister Ybema said his government would further strengthen
political and economic ties with Croatia, as concretely as
possible. The Dutch government and businessmen are especially
interested in tourism, the development of the Rijeka harbour, while
assistance is also possible in agriculture, the financial sector,
the power-supply industry, and environmental protection, he said.
The Dutch minister added his government was satisfied with the
policy of Croatia's new government, particularly the way it is
implementing cooperation with the international political and
economic community.
"We want to strengthen and intensify further cooperation, we want
to create a more favourable framework for business people from the
Netherlands and Croatia," said Minister Ybema.
Croatia's Deputy Prime Minister Linic held talks with Ybema prior
to the signing of the letter of intent. Linic said it was becoming
evident the Netherlands would be very active in Croatia's
integration with European structures.
Political support alone is not enough, said Linic, adding economic
results were necessary to stabilise Croatia's economy. By
supporting economic changes, the Dutch government, the European
Union's financial institutions, the International Monetary Fund,
and the World Bank are saying that Croatia is part of Europe and of
the entire European economic system, he assessed.
(hina) ha