CROATIA, UKRAINE SIGN CULTURAL COOPERATION, AIR TRAFFIC AGREEMENTS

ZAGREB, June 5 (Hina) - Foreign ministers Mate Granic of Croatia and Genady Udovenko of Ukraine signed a cultural, educational, scientific and technological cooperation agreement and an air traffic agreement in Zagreb on Thursday. "The relations between Croatia and Ukraine are on the ascending line. We expect even more from the economic cooperation," Granic told reporters after the signing ceremony. The two ministers described their talks before the signing of the agreements as friendly and substantive, saying that they focused on the cooperation between the two countries in international organisations. "Our countries support each other in Euro-Atlantic integration processes, particularly as regards multilateral cooperation in the UN," Granic said. He added that the strategic goals of both countries were admission to the Central European Free Trade Association and the World Trade Organisation and the signing of cooperation agreements with the European Union. "As for the security orientation of the two countries, the Republic of Croatia wishes to become a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace programme, and we also support the Lisbon agreement between Ukraine and NATO and the agreement between Ukraine and the Russian Federation," Granic said. Udovenko said that they particularly discussed the issues of mutual cooperation in international organisations, the UN and regional structures of Central and Eastern Europe. "We have confirmed our support for Croatia's admission to the Danube Commission as a full member," Udovenko said. Udovenko said that Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma was planning to pay an official visit to Croatia during which he would sign a friendship and cooperation agreement with President Franjo Tudjman. Noting that the two countries had great potential for the development of economic cooperation, Granic said that negotiations were under way on signing a road traffic agreement and an investment protection and promotion agreement. Granic said that he also informed his guest that the UNTAES mandate and the peaceful reintegration of the UN-administered Croatian Danube river region were coming to a successful end. (hina) vm jn 051731 MET jun 97