KORCULA/DUBROVNIK, May 29 (Hina) - Croatia's internal and foreign policy is based on the political and economic security, and participants in the seven-day first world cup in sailing of television and radio reporters could see that
Croatia is a safe and secure country, said Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa on Saturday. In the current unfavourable times for Croatia's tourism due to the Kosovo crisis, this regatta (called Croatia Cup) will contribute to the promotion of Croatia and to showing foreign correspondents that the country is safe and hospitable, Matesa told a news conference for about 250 foreign and domestic journalists, held aboard the 'Marco Polo' ship sailing between Korcula and Dubrovnik. Croatia is a stable country and capable of solving its problems, Matesa said adding that the Government had taken great efforts in recent years to achieve economic goals. The
KORCULA/DUBROVNIK, May 29 (Hina) - Croatia's internal and foreign
policy is based on the political and economic security, and
participants in the seven-day first world cup in sailing of
television and radio reporters could see that Croatia is a safe and
secure country, said Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa on
Saturday.
In the current unfavourable times for Croatia's tourism due to the
Kosovo crisis, this regatta (called Croatia Cup) will contribute to
the promotion of Croatia and to showing foreign correspondents that
the country is safe and hospitable, Matesa told a news conference
for about 250 foreign and domestic journalists, held aboard the
'Marco Polo' ship sailing between Korcula and Dubrovnik.
Croatia is a stable country and capable of solving its problems,
Matesa said adding that the Government had taken great efforts in
recent years to achieve economic goals. The gross domestic product
has risen annually by 6 (six) percent on average, whereas the
inflation rate has been about 4 (four) percent at the same time.
In the field of tourism, modern telecommunications technology has
been introduced and airports reconstructed. In the coming years we
are to build 30 seaports and marinas on islands, the Prime Minister
said adding that by 2004 Croatia's north and south should be linked
by new motorways.
Croatian Tourism Minister Ivan Herak told the reporters about
privileges for boaters who will decide to spend holidays in
Croatia. He mentioned a recent decision of his ministry to cut the
annual fee for using a berth from 400 kuna (57 dollars) to 200 kuna
(28 dollars). It is now on the Government to confirm this decision.
Herak added that Croatia was making additional efforts in order to
return the country among most important tourist destinations on the
Mediterranean.
In this respect, the environmental protection of Croatia's part of
Adriatic Sea is important and the country is to allocate more than
400 million dollars for this purpose, the Tourism Minister said.
Asked by reporters about the unsealing of the International War
Crimes Tribunal's indictment against Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic, Prime Minister Matesa said Croatia's was not in the
position to comment on the Tribunal's work, but he expressed regret
at the fact that there was no mention in the indictment of the
shelling of Zagreb and the destruction of Vukovar.
(hina) ms