EUROPEAN CIVIL AVIATION CONFERENCE REPRESENTATIVES VISIT CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 7277 ) ZAGREB, April 16 (Hina) - Croatian Transport, Communications and Maritime Affairs Minister Zeljko Luzavec on Thursday received high ranking officials of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC). ECAC president Andre Auer and executive secretary Raymond Benjamin are currently on an official visit to Croatia. Discussed at the meeting were ECAC assistance in the opening of the north air corridor via Croatia and Yugoslavia, in which all European airlines have shown interest. "We are visiting Croatia in order to see at what level of development your country's aviation is and to see how we can help in its further development," said the ECAC president. Auer described today's talks with Minister Luzavec as very fruitful, stressing he was impressed with progress which had been made in the past several years, especially in Zagreb airport, Croatia Airlines and civil aviation. "The ECAC intends to secure a safe, effective and sustainable system of air transport and I believe that Croatia's efforts are aimed at achieving the same, and that Croatia is doing all it can in order to improve its already high level of safety and effectiveness in air traffic and satisfy all users. During the talks we have established several areas in which the ECAC can help Croatia," Auer said. I supported the Minister in his effort to keep on the European track and I think Croatia has guaranteed development of civil aviation in the ECAC, Auer said. (hina) mm rm /mb 161830 MET apr 98