CRO MINISTER MEETS WITH ISRAELI,ROMANIAN AND AZERBEIJAN DIPLOMATS

OSLO, Dec 2 (Hina) - An agreement concerning Croatia's President Franjo Tudjman's visit to Israel, is expected in near future, while in the first half of 1999, the Romanian president Constantinescu should visit Croatia, said the Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Wednesday in Oslo, where he is attending the 7th Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Ministry Council. In the bilateral part of his programme, Granic has so far met with representatives of Israel, Romania, and Azerbeijan. Talks with Israeli State Secretary Eytan Betsur discussed further development and very good cooperation in political, economic, cultural, scientific and military plans. According to Granic, details of the Croatian President's visit to Israel were also discussed. He also announced the Croatian Defence Minister Pavao Miljavac's visit to Israel for February 1999. During his visit with the Romanian Foreign Minister Gabriel Plesu, Granic asserted the cooperation between the two countries as more intensive, particularly in an economic plan, and added that negotiations on a free trade zone agreement were in its final stage. In the talks with Azerbeijan's Foreign Minister Tofik Zulfukarov, interest of the Azerbeijani side for strengthening economic relations with Croatia was expressed. In continuance of his bilateral programme, Granic should meet with Norwegian, German, and Irish foreign ministers. Foreign ministers and foreign ministries' senior officials of 54 OSCE member countries will discuss current OSCE missions, during their two-day session, particularly the mission in Kosovo. They will also examine the work on preparing a Charter on European Security which should set a role model for European security for the 21st century. (hina) it/jn