CROATIA AND SLOVAKIA CONTINUE GOOD ECONOMIC RELATIONS

( Editorial: --> 3313 ) ZAGREB, Jan 9 (Hina) - Croatia and Slovakia will continue their good economic relations and try to strengthen cooperation in the tourism, energy and mechanical engineering industries, the Croatian and Slovakian Economy Ministers Nenad Porges and Karol Cesnek said in Zagreb on Friday. Minister Cesnek arrived on Wednesday for a three-day visit to Croatia at the head of a large economic delegation. The Croatian and Slovakian ministers chaired on Thursday and Friday the second meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission for Economic Cooperation, while on Friday they signed the minutes of this meeting. Speaking about economic cooperation during a press conference, Minister Cesnek stressed that he "saw great perspectives for firms which engage in electricity distribution". Asked about a free trade agreement between the two countries, Porges answered that "the final aim was free trade in both directions" but Croatia's priority at the moment was to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Cesnek added that Slovakia offered Croatia support in its bid to enter the WTO. (Hina) mm mb 091649 MET jan 98