CROATIA'S ECONOMY PRESENTED IN SPECIAL REPORT ISSUED BY LE MONDE

PARIS, Nov 20 (Hina) - Croatia's economic policy, its development potentials and major economic branches' plans were presented in a special business feature published by Le Monde on Saturday.#L# In addition to Croatia, other three countries - Hungary, Macedonia and Slovenia - were presented in this 12-page feature prepared by the French agency "Interfrance media". "Each of these countries has its specific features and its tradition," read the introductory part of this report. It added that these four geographically close countries are directed toward their mutual cooperation. This cooperation has sources also in their joint past and prepares them for the future which each of them sees at the line of integration in the European Union, the paper said. Topics elaborated in the feature are stabilisation and macroeconomic policies, development, a policy of privatisation, banking and insurance systems, telecommunications and transport, power industry, food-processing industry, foreign trade and tourism. Croatia's Premier was cited as expressing readiness to sign an agreement on free trade during his recent with Hungarian President Arpad Goncz. Croatia's Vice Premier Borislav Skegro was quoted as saying that the stability of Croatia's balance of paying was guaranteed for 1999 and 2000. Other Croatian senior officials or distinguished businessmen spoke of the banking, telecommunications, oil and power industry, and food production. The feature also presented offers of Croatia's tourism and activities of the Zagreb Fair. The "Interfrance media" agency prepares similar features on economies of some countries and publishes them in Le Monde twice a month. Reports are sponsored and include notices and bids of companies. The Saturday issue of this French daily, which comprises these reports, amounts to a circulation of a half million, and one quarter is sold outside France. (hina) ms