CONFERENCE ON DEVELOPMENT OF CROATIAN PORTS OPENS IN OPATIJA

( Editorial: --> 4683 ) OPATIJA, May 18 (Hina) - A conference on possibilities of developing Croatia's ports opened in Opatija, northern Adriatic, Monday. The conference was organised by the British Embassy in Croatia and the Croatian Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications. In his introduction, British Ambassador Colin Munroe said British experts wanted to get acquainted with the possibilities of Croatia's maritime industry and use their experience to assist in an up-to-date organisation of Croatian ports to achieve better functioning. According to Croatian Assistant Maritime Affairs Minister Mario Babic, Croatian ports are undergoing a restructuring process through the establishment of trade companies. As a maritime power, Great Britain will provide very useful experience to that end, he said. Both Primorsko-Goranska County Prefect Milivoj Brozina and Rijeka Mayor Slavko Linic emphasised the significance of the Rijeka port and maritime route not only for overall Croatian economy, but for other Central European countries as well. Brozina and Linic advocated north Adriatic ports should make a joint venture to stand Atlantic competition. The conference will also discuss the possibilities of the British port system, development plans for Croatian ports, the development of port industry, and other topics. In the next days, British experts will visit the ports of Rijeka, Split and Ploce. (hina) ha 181303 MET may 98