ZAGREB, 24 March (Hina) - The friendly countries Croatia and Chile will try and develop stronger political, economic and cultural relations, Croatian and Chilean foreign ministers Mate Granic and Jose Miguel Insulza stated in Zagreb
on Monday.
ZAGREB, 24 March (Hina) - The friendly countries Croatia and Chile
will try and develop stronger political, economic and cultural
relations, Croatian and Chilean foreign ministers Mate Granic and
Jose Miguel Insulza stated in Zagreb on Monday. #L#
Insulza arrived for a two-day visit to Croatia yesterday.
He held talks with Granic this morning.
The two ministers discussed regional relations in South
America and Europe as well as relations between the two countries.
Granic informed Insulza about Croatia's expectations in
completing the reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area by 15
July.
The two countries are connected by the policy of openness and
development, conducted by Presidents Franjo Tudjman and Eduardo
Frei as well as by the especially strong Croatian community in
Chile.
The Croat community is very well integrated in the political,
economic and public life of Chile, which is proved by the fact that
the current Chilean ministers of power industry, defence and
agriculture are of Croat descent.
The Croat community in Chile is a bridge of friendship between
the two countries, Granic said.
According to the Chilean foreign minister, of all Central
European countries, Croatia has the largest national community in
Chile.
Croatia and Chile have recently been trying to improve
economic relations and the Chilean capital is slowly arriving in
Croatia.
The Luksic trade association, headed by a Chilean of Croat
descent, has already invested in the Karlovac brewery.
Insulza stressed that it was no wonder that the first Chilean
investments in Europe were made in Croatia.
The two ministers today signed a protocol on cooperation
between the two ministries.
Croatia and Chile have earlier signed agreements on the
cancellation of visas, technical and scientific cooperation and
promotion and protection of investment.
Granic said he believed that other agreements would be signed
this year, including a transitional economic agreement which will
be valid until Croatia becomes a member of the World Trade
Organisation.
The Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and Foreign Minister
Mate Granic have already visited Chile.
The Chilean foreign minister said in the end that the Chilean
President Eduardo Frei would visit Croatia in the next several
months.
(hina) rm jn
241258 MET mar 97