ECONOMY MINISTER COMMENTS ON CROATIA'S ADMISSION TO WTO

ZAGREB, July 20 (Hina) - Croatia will become a full-right member of the World Trade Organisation towards the end of October, following formal procedure and ratification in the Croatian parliament, Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic said in Zagreb on Thursday. Fizulic told reporters joining one of the world's most important organisations, which covers more than 80 percent of world trade, eliminated all obstacles in the signing of bilateral agreements on free trade with individual countries, as well as with the European Free Trade Agreement and the Central European Free Trade Association. The first working meeting with EFTA member-states was held this week. An integral agreement could be completed by year's end. With regard to an agreement with the CEFTA, the situation is different depending on the country. Fizulic said agreement had been reached with Hungary and Poland in connection with industrial products, that there were differences regarding agriculture and food which could be settled in the autumn. Negotiations with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria have yet to begin. The economy minister said agreements could be signed by year's end depending on each country's interest. Speaking about a free trade agreement with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Fizulic said negotiations were in course, but that it was difficult to say when they would be completed. Negotiations with the European Union kick off in October. The government should name the chief negotiator soon, and these will be the longest and most-complex negotiations, said the minister. "I believe that by spring next year, these negotiations should be completed," he added. According to this pace, 80 percent of Croatia's trade with the world should be based on the free trade regime by early 2002, concluded Fizulic. (hina) ha mm