JERUSALEM, Aug 2 (Hina) - Croatia's First Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic on Wednesday held a meeting with Israeli Premier Ehud Barak.
JERUSALEM, Aug 2 (Hina) - Croatia's First Deputy Prime Minister
Goran Granic on Wednesday held a meeting with Israeli Premier Ehud
Barak.#L#
During their talks in Jerusalem, Barak and Granic confirmed that
there were no more hindrances for the two countries' bids to develop
their political and economic relations.
On the fourth, last, day of the visit of Croatia's government
delegation, First Deputy PM Granic met Barak a few minutes after
Barak's deputy, David Levy, tendered his resignation owing to his
disagreement with Premier's conduct of the Israeli-Palestinian
negotiations. The Israeli parliament - Knesset - has also decided
to consider early elections in the country.
However, this visit of Croatian senior officials and their
excellent reception by the Israeli hosts have shown that a barrier
for the furtherance of the bilateral ties was removed, which was set
up by the Croatian late President Franjo Tudjman's playing down the
scale of the Holocaust and by certain Croatian circles' flirtation
with Ustashi symbols.
"Israeli Government is ready to invest much effort to give impetus
to the economic cooperation and overall cooperation between
Croatia and Israel," Granic told Croatian reporters after his talks
with Barak.
On Monday, during his visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial
centre in Jerusalem, Goran Granic, on behalf of the Croatian
Government, condemned crimes committed against Jews by the Ustashi
regime in Croatia (1941-1945).
The Israeli party appreciates this visit and all what we have done
during the tour, Granic added.
"I am satisfied and I believe I am coming back to Zagreb with good
results," Granic told Croatian reporters.
The largest part of this visit was dedicated to the bilateral
economic cooperation.
On Tuesday, Granic and Levy signed a treaty on economic cooperation
and a treaty on the mutual stimulation and protection of
investment.
Israel has announced to rescind visas for Croatia's citizens and in
autumn the two countries should commence negotiations on a free
trade agreement and an agreement on double taxation avoidance.
These steps should upgrade the currently poor trade between the two
countries which totals just 20 million dollars annually, as well as
help attract Israeli investment in the Croatian economy.
Croatia has already started to amend its legislation and transform
the banking system so that the country can be a friendly environment
for foreign investments.
During the four-day visit the Croatian ministers held talks with
Israeli businessmen and toured the companies such as the Israel
Aircraft Industry (IAI) and the "Elbit" firm.
If Croatia opts for modernisation of MIG 21 planes it possesses, the
Israeli Aircraft Industry will get this job, worth some 110 million
dollars.
Croatian Defence Minister Jozo Rados and Israeli Deputy Defence
Minister Ephraim Sneh have agreed that the two parties resume the
negotiations on this job in Zagreb in November and discuss
possibilities of the joint manufacturing of weaponry.
On the last day of its visit the Croatian delegation will tour
Bethlehem where it is expected to meet the city's mayor, Hana Nasser
and some Palestinian officials.
(hina) ms