CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER SUPPORTS GERMAN INVESTMENTS IN CROATIA

HANNOVER, Oct 26 (Hina) - Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Thursday he would support the interest of large German companies to invest into Croatia. "I have been informed at talks with the heads of large German companies that there is interest and that they believe it is worth investing in Croatia," Schroeder said after talks with Croatian President Stipe Mesic in Hannover. Schroeder said he and Mesic had agreed to jointly support that interest and make it possible for the German industry to invest in Croatia. President Mesic arrived in Germany for a two-day state visit today. The two high officials welcomed democratisation in Yugoslavia, a process to which Croatia has contributed as well. Schroeder said one should support the new authority in Serbia and the new president Vojislav Kostunica. Speaking about the upcoming summit in Zagreb, President Mesic said he expected the European Union to start talks with Croatia about association on the basis of the country's achievements. "We don't want to be a part of some train where the pace of association will depend on the last carriage, but we want it (the process of association) to be a regatta," Mesic said adding he had received Germany's support in that sense. Schroeder said Yugoslavia, too, should integrate into the Stability Pact but not to the detriment of other countries in the region. After the meeting with Schroeder, Mesic went on a tour of the world exhibition EXPO 2000 in Hannover. (hina) rml