BRUSSELS: GRANIC & DERYCKE CROATIAN AND BELGIAN FMs DISCUSS BILATERAL RELATIONS

RELATIONS BRUSSELS, Nov 10 (Hina)- Croatian and Belgian Foreign Ministers Mate Granic and Erik Derycke met on Tuesday in Brussels to discuss bilateral issues, including the dropping of visa requirements for Croatian citizens travelling to the Benelux countries and economic cooperation. The agenda also included Croatia's relations with the EU and NATO. "I believe that after January 1, 1999 it will be possible to drop the visa requirements for Croatian citizens travelling to >Benelux", Derycke said. Yet, he added that the agreement was subject to approvement by Holland. Belgium is ready to strengthen economic relations with Croatia, Dercyke stressed. His Croatian colleague emphasised that the two countries were drafting bilateral agreements on investments, the avoidance of double taxation and social security. "The conference on the reconstruction and development of Croatia, which will be attended by Belgium, will pave the way for initiatives by Belgian companies and give us an opportunity to assist in Croatia's economic development", announced the Belgian minister. The Foreign Ministers of the EU countries on Monday decided to retain the status quo in relations with Croatia, quoting conditions for gradual integration which Croatia has failed to meet. Minister Granic informed his Belgium counterpart with the steps Croatia is taking so as to fulfil the conditions. "I have informed Minister Derycke of the reforms in the judiciary", and "the implementation of the Law regarding Television and the debate concerning new election laws" said Granic. Minister Granic told his Belgium host that he expected Croatia would shortly pass "a new banking law that will reinforce the role of Croatia's central bank". Belgium must coordinate its policies for Croatia with EU policies, the Belgian minister noted. He added that, on the other hand, Croatia's relations with Europe needed a boost and welcomed the steps that, according to Minister Granic, Croatia intended to take in the immediate future. Minister Granic stressed Croatia's strategic interests were economic revival, completion of negotiations with the World Trade Organisation by April or May 1999 and gradual incorporation into the EU and Partnership for Peace initiative. "I have informed the Belgian minister that by the end of this week he could expect the commencement of negotiations between Croatia and the USA on Croatia's regular incorporation into Partnership for Peace Initiative". The Croatian FM met with the President of the Belgian Parliament, Frank Swaelen, and was received by Belgian's state minister and the mayor of Brussels, Francois Xavier De Donnea de Hamoir. (Hina) mr/ab