SABOR DEPUTY SPEAKER MEETS ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER

ZAGREB, Aug 1 (Hina) - It is possible to improve the good cooperation between Croatia and Albania by strengthening the ties and cooperation between the two countries' parliaments and governments and their business people, a Croatian Parliament Deputy Speaker, Vlatko Pavletic, and Albanian Prime Minister Ilir Meta agreed at talks in Zagreb on Tuesday. The Croatian side and Albanian officials, who are on a two-day visit to Croatia, headed by Prime Minister Meta, agreed that objective circumstances had over the past decade prevented the realisation of signed agreements, a statement from the Sabor's Public Relations Office said. An important step in that direction would be the mutual cancellation of visa requirements and the reduction of customs and tax rates, the purpose of which is the acceleration of trade, it was said at the talks. Albania and Croatia are factors of stability in the region, which is still burdened with tensions in Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo. The two countries can best contribute to security by developing democracy and securing the functioning of the rule of law, the two sides said. Attending the talks were also another Parliament Deputy Speaker Zdravko Tomac and the chairwoman of the Committee on Economy, Development and Reconstruction, Dragica Zgrebec. (hina) rml