SCIENCE MINISTER MUSES ON SUCCESS OF VISIT TO TURKEY

( Editorial: --> 8083 ) ZAGREB, April 20 (Hina) - Science and Technology Minister Ivica Kostovic on Monday assessed a five-day visit by a Croatian delegation to Turkey, which ended on Sunday, as successful. During the visit cooperation protocols were signed between the two countries in the science and technology arena as well as higher education and recognition of university studies and diplomas. The Croatian delegation met Turkish Minister of State Ruestue Kazim Yuecelen, YOEK (Turkish Higher Education Advisory) chairman Kemal Gueruez and Ankara University rector Guen Akbay. They also held talks with representatives from the Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council (TUEBITAK) and Tourism Ministry, and visited the Marmara technology park and Turkey's largest fishery Pinar. Exploration of the sea, the areas of information technology and telecommunications and biomedicine will be priorities for cooperation in the science and technology arena, Kostovic said. An agreement was reached on joint projects in the areas of social and human sciences, including a historical research project on relations between the Dubrovnik Republic and the Ottoman Empire. Cooperation between Croatian and Turkish universities was also agreed to. YOEK supported the idea of establishing the first joint studies - the Business School for Nautical Management which would be formed in cooperation between the Dubrovnik Polytechnic and one of Turkey's universities. They discussed the opening of an instructorship for the Croatian and Turkish languages. (Hina) jn mb /as 201601 MET apr 98