PREMIER MATESA MEETS ENI DIRECTOR MINCATO

ZAGREB, Nov 3 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa on Wednesday met the managing director of the Italian oil company Eni, Vittorio Mincato. A delegation of the Italian company is paying a visit to Croatia on the occasion of the official start of production of natural gas at the platform Ivana A in the northern Adriatic, which is the first step in the implementation of a joint project involving Eni and the Croatian oil company Ina. In a short statement after the meeting, Matesa said the start of gas production was the first stage in the implementation of a project called Ivana, which is of great importance for the two countries and their economic cooperation. The project also includes the construction of a gas pipeline, which is to link the Italian and Croatian Adriatic coast, and another gas pipeline from Pula to Karlovac. A gas pipeline from Zagreb to Karlovac is already under construction, Matesa said. In two to three years the project will especially benefit the residents of Istria, Kvarner, Rijeka, and Gorski Kotar region. Eni managing director Mincato expressed satisfaction with the cooperation the two sides have had so far and the possibility of its continuation. (hina) rml