CROATIAN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY MINISTER VISITS TURKEY

SPLIT, April 15 (Hina) - Croatian Science and Technology Minister Ivica Kostovic visited the Scientific Research Centre Tubitak Marmara in Istanbul on Wednesday. Kostovic and his associates arrived in Turkey for an official visit on Tuesday at the invitation of the Turkish Science and Technology Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen. The Croatian delegation includes an assistant for international scientific cooperation, Radovan Fuchs, the head of a department for bilateral cooperation Vinko Purgar and the Croatian Ambassador to Ankara, Ivica Tomic. During the day, Kostovic and his associates visited one of the best known Turkish marinas, Atakoy, in Istanbul. On Thursday Kostovic is expected to hold talks with his host, Science Minister Yucelen, as well as with the Turkish tourism minister and the president of the Turkish Higher Education Council. The talks will focus on widening overall cooperation between Croatia and Turkey, especially in the field of science and technology. About 20 agreements and protocols on cooperation have been signed between the two countries so far. (hina) rm/mrb 151529 MET apr 98