PORGES HOLDS TALKS WITH COUNTERPARTS FROM DANUBE-BASIN STATES

( Editorial: --> 3020 ) VIENNA, Mar 28 (Hina) - Croatian Economy Minister Nenad Porges Saturday held bilateral talks with counterparts from Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Germany, as part of a conference of Danube- basin countries' economy ministers, taking place in Vienna. Porges said he had been given strong assurances by his Austrian counterpart Hannes Farnleitner and German Deputy Foreign Minister Walter Kittel that their countries would support Croatia's endeavours to enter the World Trade Organisation and the European Union. The Croatian Economy Minister also informed his colleagues about a donors conference to take place in May. Porges' talks with his Slovakian counterpart focused on cooperation in economy, transport and tourism. Talks with Hungarian counterpart Szabolsz Fazakas focused on the continuation of negotiations on free trade, and gas and power supply connections between Croatia and Hungary. (hina) ha jn 281623 MET mar 98