CENTRAL EUROPEAN INITIATIVE ZAGREB SUMMIT BEGINS

ZAGREB, Nov 20 (Hina) - A Central European Initiative (CEI) summit began in Zagreb on Friday afternoon with an informal meeting of the foreign ministers of member-countries. The summit will focus on approaching the European Union (EU) and stability in the region. The foreign and deputy foreign ministers of CEI's 16 member- countries this afternoon discussed further cooperation within the CEI, how member-countries should approach the EU, and issues related to stability and peace in south-eastern Europe. The ministers in particular focused on the Kosovo issue, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic told reporters after the closed meeting. "Croatia was especially commended for initialling the Ploce and Neum agreement (between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina), and the special relations agreement (between Croatia and the Croat-Muslim Federation of BH)," Granic told Croatian Television and Hina. This evening all participants in the CEI summit will be received by the Croatian President. This year CEI is presided by Croatia, while the Czech Republic will take over in 1999. The summit is the biggest international conference organised in Croatia to date. Established in 1989, the CEI includes Austria, Italy, and central and eastern European countries in transition. Its principal goals include integration with Europe, and stronger political and economic cooperation among member-countries. (hina) ha mm