ZAGREB, Feb 9 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic and his Greek counterpart, Theodors Pangalos, described the development of the Croatian-Greek relations as positive. After their talks in Zagreb on Monday night they
concluded that Greece as a member of the European Union was ready to support Croatia's bid for entering the PHARE programme and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). After his official visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Greek Minister Pangalos arrived in Zagreb on Monday evening for a one-day visit to Croatia. Upon his arrival in the Croatian capital he met Minister Granic. Croatian President Franjo Tudjman is to receive the Greek Foreign Minister on Tuesday. Greece believes that there must be a European strategy for Croatia, Pangalos said announcing that his country will demand a new discussion on the relations between Croatia and the PHARE programme in this context,
ZAGREB, Feb 9 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic and his
Greek counterpart, Theodors Pangalos, described the development of
the Croatian-Greek relations as positive.
After their talks in Zagreb on Monday night they concluded that
Greece as a member of the European Union was ready to support
Croatia's bid for entering the PHARE programme and the World Trade
Organisation (WTO).
After his official visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Greek Minister
Pangalos arrived in Zagreb on Monday evening for a one-day visit to
Croatia. Upon his arrival in the Croatian capital he met Minister
Granic.
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman is to receive the Greek Foreign
Minister on Tuesday.
Greece believes that there must be a European strategy for Croatia,
Pangalos said announcing that his country will demand a new
discussion on the relations between Croatia and the PHARE programme
in this context, as Croatia has not yet been given the green light
for the use of it.
Greece supports Croatia's admittance to the WTO, Minister Granic
said adding that the Athens government maintained that an
invitation should be forwarded to Zagreb to attend the forthcoming
summit meeting of NATO in Washington.
No matter how the topic of the broadening of NATO will go on, it is
certain that there is room for yet another country if there may be
for probably 44 countries, Pangalos said.
The two ministers expressed satisfaction with a more and more
positive development of the bilateral relations which are on the
new path, according to Pangalos.
Granic added that President Tudjman's visit to Greece last November
gave a strong incentive to promoting the overall relations and
advancing the economic cooperation.
He said the Croatian-Greek talks were under way on an agreement on
air traffic, on a protocol on the cultural cooperation and the
promotion of cooperation in tourism.
Granic announced a meeting of experts for the initiative about the
Adriatic motorway, strongly supported by Croatia, for the first
half of this year.
This initiative was one of the main topics during the Croatian
delegation's visit to Greece.
The both countries endorsed also the so-called Adriatic
initiative, launched by Italy, which covers all concrete specific
issues such as the struggle against crime, environmental
protection, tourist cooperation and the safety and security of
sailing, Granic explained.
Greece and Croatia shared the same views on the situation in a
broader region and particularly in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The both
countries backed a proposal of the six-nation Contact Group for
Kosovo and the on-going negotiations in Rambouillet.
Considering the situation in Bosnia, Granic informed Pangalos
about the further steps in the implementation of the Dayton Accords
in 1999 when Croatia expects the completion of the talks on the
demarcation of the Croatian-Bosnian border, the signing of the
agreement on the trade between the two countries and the signing of
the annexes to the Agreement on the Special Relations between
Croatia and the Croat-Moslem Federation.
Greece attached the great importance to the issue of the return of
refugees, the Greek Foreign Minister said adding that in his mind
the international community can help to remove the economic
obstacles in this field.
(hina) jn ms