FRENCH POSITION ON CRO ACCESS TO WTO SAME - SAYS CRO REP

PARIS, Oct 5 (Hina) - Croatian Assistant Economy Minister Neven Mimica on Tuesday held talks in Paris with high-ranking French officials on contentious issues relative to audio-visual services which are obstructing Croatia's access to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). "Unfortunately, there has been no change in the French position," Mimica told Hina after his separate talks at the French ministries of economy and finance, and foreign affairs, and with an adviser at the French President's Office. France is adamant that Croatia accept the so called Baltic model regarding audio-visual services, with the explanation that prior to a new WTO negotiating round in Seattle, the European Union (EU) must not yield in even one issue which Washington could interpret as a negotiating weakness. Mimica believes a way out could be found in direct contacts on the Brussels-Washington-Zagreb line. He pointed out France also maintained the Seattle negotiations did not mean a discontinuation of admission proceedings for aspiring members, and added this view was shared by other EU members, as well as Washington. EU countries' standing representatives in Brussels are expected to discuss the problems arisen due to the French position regarding Croatia's access to the WTO by the end of the week. If no agreement is reached, a decision should be made at a Council of Europe foreign ministers' conference in Luxembourg on 11 October. (hina) ha