ANKARA, Nov 6 (Hina) - Croatia and Turkey are determined to improve their trade and economic relations and adjust them to their excellent political relations, Croatian and Turkish Prime Ministers Ivica Racan and Bulent Ecevit
respectively said in Ankara on Monday.
ANKARA, Nov 6 (Hina) - Croatia and Turkey are determined to improve
their trade and economic relations and adjust them to their
excellent political relations, Croatian and Turkish Prime
Ministers Ivica Racan and Bulent Ecevit respectively said in Ankara
on Monday. #L#
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of Croatian and Turkish
government officials, the two premiers said the talks focused on
the improvement of economic cooperation both bilaterally and
toward third countries, and assessed that not enough had been done
in that field.
Racan said the managers of three major Croatian companies - Koncar,
Podravka and Viadukt - were holding important talks with Turkish
partners and expressed confidence that similar companies from
Croatia and Turkey would join them.
The two premiers agreed that the meeting had confirmed the
traditionally good relations between Croatia and Turkey and their
developed cooperation.
The countries' internal stability is important for wider regional
stability due to their exceptionally sensitive geopolitical
position, the high officials said. Turkey's Ecevit said the
government of Prime Minister Racan had achieved significant
progress in democratising the state as well as in the field of
economy.
Croatian President Stipe Mesic will soon visit Turkey and Prime
Minister Ecevit has been invited to pay an official visit to
Croatia, it was said at the press conference.
The two delegations also discussed changes in the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia and their impact on cooperation within the Stability
Pact. Croatia has supported the process of democratisation and
normalisation in Belgrade but Milosevic's fall does not mean the
fall of his policy, Racan said.
Asked about the possibility that some new kind of association of the
former Yugoslav republics could be formed, Racan said, "Croatia
supports cooperation with its neighbours as well as regional
cooperation but it cannot accept any form of some neo-Yugoslav or
Balkan association."
Speaking about the impact of changes in Yugoslavia on the Stability
Pact, Racan said that "it is neither the place nor the time to speak
critically about the Pact," but he believed "that the potential of
the Pact has not been exhausted and that the time for redefining its
goals will come soon after changes in Belgrade."
Ecevit agreed with Racan, adding he fully shared his concern and
hope regarding the situation in Yugoslavia.
"I believe Kostunica will do all he can so that Yugoslavia can join
the civilised world, which is conditional on putting an end to
ethnic discrimination and respecting neighbours," he said.
Participating in today's talks were Turkish Foreign Minister
Ismail Cem and other Turkish ministers, Croatian Transport
Minister Alojz Tusek, Public Works Minister Radimir Cacic and
Deputy Economy and Foreign Ministers Neven Mimica and Vesna
Cvjetkovic Kurelec.
(hina) rml