SPLIT, March 24 (Hina) - The Croatian-Italian Joint Commission for political issues on Monday held its 12th meeting during which it discussed the ways of paying back Croatia's debt amounting to US$ 35 million, to which it is committed
under the Osimo and Rome agreements.
SPLIT, March 24 (Hina) - The Croatian-Italian Joint Commission for political
issues on Monday held its 12th meeting during which it discussed the ways of
paying back Croatia's debt amounting to US$ 35 million, to which it is
committed under the Osimo and Rome agreements. #L#
After the meeting behind closed doors, Croatian Assistant Foreign
Minister Hido Biscevic told Hina that the Italian side had reiterated their
view that they preferred the debt to be paid by real-estate.
Croatia remained at a stance, which had been conveyed to the Italian
side, that it could not accept the paying of the debt exclusively through
real-estate, and the Italian side had not even considered Croatia's
suggestion that 50 percent of the debt be paid in hotel shares from the
portfolio of the Croatian Privatization Fund and 50 percent in ready money,
Biscevic said.
According to Biscevic, a significant part of the discussion had
focused on the free access to the Croatian real-estate market, at the
initiative of the Italian side.
The Croatian delegation reiterated that access to Croatian real-estate
was possible at a degree and tempo at which the Croatian legislature would
be harmonising with the EU legislature, that is, by the same dynamics as by
which Croatia is to be accepted into the EU.
The core of the meeting of the commission was in the consistent
request of the Italian side that the US$ 35 million debt be paid by Croatia
through houses in Istria.
(hina) lm
242136 MET mar 97