CROATIA TO ACCESS WTO IN A YEAR - MATESA

( Editorial: --> 8551 ) ZAGREB, June 3 (Hina) - Croatia is expediting its efforts to access the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in a little over a year, Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa and WTO representative Arif Hussain said during talks in Zagreb on Wednesday. Hussain is visiting Croatia at the invitation of Croatian Economy Minister Nenad Porges. "It is a fact that Croatia has the opportunity to join this organisation within the set time limit of a year," Matesa said after the talks. He said Croatia needed to complete all the necessary preparations to harmonise its laws and customs regulations in specific areas such as agriculture, so that the process could be expedited and concluded within the envisaged time frame. The goal of my visit is to provide assistance and ensure that within the next 18 to 19 months, the process of Croatia's accession into the WTO is sped up, Hussain said. Pledging that Croatia would complete its part of obligations quickly, Matesa reiterated that membership in the WTO was one of "Croatia's strategic goals", and expressed gratitude for the support Croatia was receiving from the WTO's structures. During his stay in Zagreb, Hussain was also received by Foreign Minister Mate Granic and Croatian Parliament deputy speaker Zarko Domljan. (hina) lml 031239 MET jun 98