DEPUTY PM MEETS INDIA'S MINISTERS FOR POWER, FOREIGN AFFAIRS

ZAGREB, Nov 21 (Hina) - Croatia's First Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic continued his visit to India by meeting on Tuesday with Power Industry Minister Jayawati Mehta and Foreign Minister Ajita Kumara Panja. According to a statement from the government's Media and Public Relations Service, Granic assessed both meetings as very friendly and useful. Granic and Mehta held talks on privatisation and reform in the power industry. He outlined Croatia's draft of a power sector reform for which Mehta said that some solutions could be included in India's impending reform. They agreed to open cooperation between experts from Zagreb's Hrvoje Pozar Institute and India's power sector. Granic briefed Indian Foreign Minister Panjo about the political situation in Croatia and priorities in internal and foreign affairs. Panjo said India saw Croatia as a very important political and economic partner in South and Central Europe. He also pointed to the long tradition of cultural ties between the two countries. Granic applauded India's initiative for a convention on an international struggle against terrorism and illegal drug trafficking, which India is to put forward to the UN General Assembly next year. In the afternoon, Granic is meeting India's parliamentary speaker G.M.C. Balayogi and Vice President Krishan Kant. (hina) ha