MESIC AND DE CROO CONSIDER PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION

BRUSSELS, July 18 (Hina) - The co-operation between parliaments of Croatia and Belgium and possibilities for the improvement of the economic co-operation between the two countries were the main topics of the talks Croatian President Stjepan Mesic held with Belgian Parliament Speaker, Herman de Croo, in Brussels on Tuesday. "We have discussed the functioning of the parliamentary and state system and the problems Croatia faced in the wake of the war," Mesic told reporters after his meeting with De Croo. Mesic stressed that in his country the rule of law had begun functioning. "We would like to be attractive to the world capital and to the capital of Belgium, our friendly country," the Croatian head of state added. He and De Croo also considered the situation in the region, particularly in Serbia and possibilities of that country for a process of democratisation. We applaud the political change in Croatia as we regard that it has positive impact on the investment as well as on democratic and social stability, the Belgian Parliament Speaker said. He proposed his country's assistance to Croatia's bids to adjust structures to standards of the European Union. Belgium is interested in investing in Croatia, De Croo added. Croatia is on the right path and I believe that we can convince Belgian businessmen to invest more into Croatia, he said. He proposed that the process of the strengthening of democracy in Croatia should spread to other parts of the region. Croatian President's visit to Belgium is expected to promote the bilateral relations between these two European countries. The ties between Zagreb and Brussels are described as friendly, but rather moderate economic co-operation between Croatia and Belgium should be improved. Mesic, accompanied by Brussels Mayor Xavier Donea, is to go sightseeing this afternoon and have an audience with Belgium's King Albert II. (hina) ms