TIRANA, March 2 (Hina) - After a three-day stay in Tirana, a Croatian parliamentary delegation on Tuesday voiced satisfaction with their first visit to Albania. Croatian MPs concluded that their country should work more on promoting
contacts with this country in the fields of economy, traffic and education. We established that ferry and air services with Albania had been discontinued, said Zarko Domljan, the head of the Croatian parliamentary foreign policy committee, members of which were on the visit to Tirana. Domljan added that they would suggest to Croatian industry to be more present in this country which is passing a hard but not dire period. We should stir up the interest of Croatian businessmen in doing businesses in Albania, said Sabri Godo, the head of the Albanian parliamentary foreign affairs committee, at a news conference on Tuesday. Albania is using the PHARE programme, and this 3.2-mil
TIRANA, March 2 (Hina) - After a three-day stay in Tirana, a
Croatian parliamentary delegation on Tuesday voiced satisfaction
with their first visit to Albania.
Croatian MPs concluded that their country should work more on
promoting contacts with this country in the fields of economy,
traffic and education.
We established that ferry and air services with Albania had been
discontinued, said Zarko Domljan, the head of the Croatian
parliamentary foreign policy committee, members of which were on
the visit to Tirana.
Domljan added that they would suggest to Croatian industry to be
more present in this country which is passing a hard but not dire
period.
We should stir up the interest of Croatian businessmen in doing
businesses in Albania, said Sabri Godo, the head of the Albanian
parliamentary foreign affairs committee, at a news conference on
Tuesday.
Albania is using the PHARE programme, and this 3.2-million country
shows signs of overcoming the difficult situation by relying on
assistance of the international community, Domljan told reporters
adding that this country is a promising region.
During five years, Albania passed from totally planned and
autocratic economy to a liberal market. But, changes have not
happened at the desirable speed, while the country is faced with 8
(eight) percent of inflation, a 16 percent rate of unemployment and
the gross national income of 800 US dollars per capita.
Croatian guests and their hosts in Tirana also agreed on the
promotion of cooperation between the two countries' parliamentary
delegations at the Council of Europe, Domljan added.
Albania was among first former Communist countries to be admitted
to the NATO's Partnership for Peace programme in 1994, and has been
a member-state of the Council of Europe since 1995.
At the news conference reporters asked Croatian representatives
mostly about their viewpoint on the Kosovo problem.
Croatia's stand is that Kosovo should be given a higher level of the
autonomy than it could enjoy until 1989, and after a three-year-
long transitional period, the people of Kosovo should be offered
possibility to give their own opinion on the matter, Domljan said.
During their visit to Tirana, Croatian MPs held talks with
parliamentarians of the ruling coalitions as well MPs of the
opposition Democratic Party, led by Sali Berisha, that has been
boycotting the National Assembly since the autumn 1998 when one of
its senior officials was killed.
The Croatians met Albanian Minister of Foreign Trade as well,
Ermelinda Meksi, on Monday.
On Monday evening Albanian President Rexhep Meidani received the
Croatian delegation.
On the third day of their visit, the Croatian representatives held
talks with Albanian Deputy Prime Minister Ilir Metan.
(hina) ms