ITALIAN AMBASSADOR VISITS RIJEKA

RIJEKA, March 22 (Hina) - Italy attaches great importance to northern Adriatic maritime traffic directions and ports, and their development and other issues will be discussed at the round table, which is to be held in Ancona on May 12 and 13, the Italian Ambassador to Croatia, Fabio Pigliapoco said during his talks with Primorje-Gorski Kotar County prefect Milivoj Brozina and the mayor of the northern Adriatic port of Rijeka, Slavko Linic, on Monday. Pigliapoco said that the "illegal trade" on the Adriatic would also be discussed at the round table, as well as measures for its prevention. The Italian Ambassador stressed that Italy was interested in building a highway which would connect Rijeka, via Slovenia and Trieste, with the European highway system. Italian entrepreneurs wish to invest in Croatia, particularly in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Pigliapoco said, adding that several companies, including Calagaris from Udine were already present in Gorski Kotar. Interlocutors advocated for further development of bilateral cooperation in culture, education, science and sports. According to them, an important bridge for realisation of such cooperation should be national minorities in both countries. Also present at the talks were Italian Consul General in Rijeka Mario Musella and a representative at the Croatian National Sabor, Furio Radin. (hina) it