WTO OFFICIAL EXPRESSES HOPE FOR CROATIA'S ACCEPTANCE

( Editorial: --> 8310 ) ZAGREB, June 2 (Hina) - A representative of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Arif Hussain, expressed in Zagreb on Tuesday hope that all negotiations on Croatia joining the WTO will be completed by the middle of 1999. At the invitation of Croatian Economic Minister Nenad Porges, Hussain is on a three-day visit to Croatia. It is important that Croatia be accepted by mid-1999 so that it could, as an equal partner, participate in new rounds of global organisational negotiations commencing at the end of 1999. During these global negotiations changes to entry requirements will be introduced, so if Croatia is not accepted by then, it would not know of conditions expected at a particular time, explained Hussain. Hussain expressed conviction in Croatia's success, as it has adopted decisions about economic reforms, expected of countries wanting opportunity to WTO entry, before its request of accession. Croatia has in the past two years achieved more than some countries in six to seven years requesting entry to membership, appraised Hussain. Hussain expressed hope that bilateral negotiations on the access of Croatia to world markets would end by the end of this year, and multilateral negotiations in the first half of next year. Hussain held a lecture at the Ministry of Economy on the importance of the WTO in global economics and international trade, relations within the organisation and advantages the WTO brings to its members. WTO is Croatia's path to entry to CEFTA, EU and world markets, Hussain said. Croatia is one of 32 countries seeking entry into the WTO. (hina)dgr/lml 021604 MET jun 98