CROATIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION LEAVES FOR SLOVAKIA

( Editorial: --> 8460 ) ZAGREB, July 18 (Hina) - Croatian National Parliament President Vlatko Pavletic and a multi-party parliamentary delegation leave on Sunday for an official visit to the Slovak Republic. Invited by Slovak Parliament President Ivan Gasparovic, the delegation will during its five-day visit hold talks with Slovak MPs, while a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar has also been scheduled. The Croatian MPs will also visit the Croatian Cultural Alliance in Slovakia and four villages where the Croat minority lives. They will tour the town of Modra and other places in the Tatra mountain range which is a candidate for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. Croatian-Slovak relations are considered to be very good with possibilities for more progress, especially in the areas of economics, science and education. Up to now 18 agreements and protocols have been signed, while Slovakia supports Croatia's entry into the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). Tri-lateral discussions are underway on this issues between Croatia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. About 3,000 Croats live in Slovakia and they enjoy minority rights. Croats live mostly in four villages near the Slovak capital Bratislava - Hrvatski Jandrof, Devinsko Novo Selo, Hrvatski Grob and Cunovo. (Hina) mbr /is 181332 MET jul 98