INTER-AMERICA DEVELOPMENT BANK PREPARED TO ASSIST CROATIA

ZAGREB, Sept 29 (Hina) - The Inter-American development Bank (IDB) is prepared to assist Croatia in expanding its economic cooperation with the world, IDB president, Enrique Iglesias, said during Friday's meeting with Croatian Finance Minister Mato Crvenac. Iglesias and associates also held talks Friday with Croatian Deputy Premier Slavko Linic, Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and president of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Nadan Vidosevic. Representatives of the Croatian Government and Chamber of Commerce informed their guests, visiting Croatia for the first time, under the organisation of the Finance Ministry, about the economic situation in the country and expressed the state's interest in expanding cooperation with the Bank. According to Iglesias, Croatian economic indicators are very promising. He expressed special interest in Croatia's position in relation to the European Union. Croatia became a member of the IDB at the end of 1993 on the basis of succession from the former Social Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (28.49 per cent of the former Yugoslavia's entire share). This membership makes it possible for Croatia to participate at auctions for the realisation of projects financed by the IDB in countries of Latin America. (hina) lml jn