GRANIC AND MUBARAK DISCUSS COOPERATION

CAIRO, July 6 (Hina) - Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday received in Cairo Croatia's Foreign Minister Mate Granic, who is completing his two-day official visit to Egypt today. The two officials discussed intensifying bilateral relations, the peace process in the Near East, and the situation in Kosovo and South-East Europe. Granic conveyed to Mubarak a message from Croatian President Franjo Tudjman presenting Croatia's views on the situation in the region, especially regarding the relations between Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina, and the situation in Kosovo. Granic also conveyed Tudjman's wish for two countries to improve their relations. Ending his visit to Egypt, Granic today spoke with the Secretary General of the Arabian League, Esmat Abdel Megiud, on cooperation between Croatia and Arab countries as well as Croatia's relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina. Croatia's foreign minister on Monday met his counterpart Amr Moussa, Economy Minister Youssef Botrous Ghali and Trade Minister Ahmed Goweli. The two sides agreed that the two countries' good political relations were not accompanied by good economic relations. Trade between Croatia and Egypt currently amounts to about US$40 million and is considerably lower than trade Croatia had with Egypt at the time of the former Yugoslavia. The first task, the ministers agreed, is for trade to be raised at a level of some US$100 million, which was the value of trade at the time of former Yugoslavia. Mentioned during talks with Egyptian officials on all levels was also the problem of Croatian sailor Anton Belic who is serving a life sentence in Egypt for drug smuggling, and whose transfer Croatia is trying to achieve. (hina) jn rml