ZAGREB, Aug 25 (Hina) - Croatia is satisfied that trade with the Russian Federation in the first half of 2000 has increased in relation to the year before but it cannot be satisfied with the fact that its exports to the Russian
Federation have decreased in the same period, Croatian Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic told reporters after meeting the Minister of Industry, Science and Technology of the Russian Federation, Alexandar Dondukov, in Zagreb on Friday. Fizulic told reporters the meeting was an informative one, at which the two sides agreed meetings by Croatian and Russian experts in September and October, after which the two sides should sign protocols in Moscow in November. Trade between Croatia and Russia in the first six months has increased by some 15 percent compared to 1999, but Croatia's exports in the same period have almost halved, amounting to a mere US$23,000, Fizulic said. "We believe th
ZAGREB, Aug 25 (Hina) - Croatia is satisfied that trade with the
Russian Federation in the first half of 2000 has increased in
relation to the year before but it cannot be satisfied with the fact
that its exports to the Russian Federation have decreased in the
same period, Croatian Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic told
reporters after meeting the Minister of Industry, Science and
Technology of the Russian Federation, Alexandar Dondukov, in
Zagreb on Friday.
Fizulic told reporters the meeting was an informative one, at which
the two sides agreed meetings by Croatian and Russian experts in
September and October, after which the two sides should sign
protocols in Moscow in November.
Trade between Croatia and Russia in the first six months has
increased by some 15 percent compared to 1999, but Croatia's
exports in the same period have almost halved, amounting to a mere
US$23,000, Fizulic said.
"We believe that trade should be raised to a higher level by
introducing new forms of cooperation, promoting mutual investments
and investment projects, infrastructure projects, by completing
the Druzba-Adrija project and by resolving the main problem in the
bilateral relations - the issue of Russia's debt clearance toward
Croatia," Fizulic said.
The Russian side, he said, has expressed readiness to solve that
problem and a new meeting of a joint commission for cooperation in
trade and economy and science and technology, which is chaired by
Dondukov and Fizulic, has been agreed on for November.
The meeting "could result in the final solution," since the Russian
minister will in the meantime try to find a solution with other
countries-successors to the former Yugoslavia, Fizulic said.
Dondukov confirmed the readiness of the Russian side to resolve
this problem.
"This is a problem which must be resolved with the cooperation of
all interested parties, and as regards the Russian side, we have
certain ideas and I believe this question will be solved in the
shortest possible period," the Russian minister said.
The Russian official supported the improvement of trade between his
country and Croatia.
After the meeting, Dondukov set out toward Plitvice Lakes, where he
is to meet Deputy Prime Minister Slavko Linic.
(hina) rml