CROATIA ENDS SECOND ROUND OF TALKS WITH WTO MEMBER-COUNTRIES

GENEVA, June 14 (Hina) - The second round of bilateral talks between a Croatian delegation and interested member-countries of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ended at the WTO headquarters in Geneva on Friday. As part of the negotiations which are part of the complex procedure of accessing this international organisation, the Croatian delegation responded with suggestions to requests of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Australia, New Zealand and Canada for a decrease in customs duties for the import of their products on the Croatian market, mainly industrial and agricultural products and services. Head of the Croatian delegation, Assistant Economy Minister Slavko Begic described the negotiations as an important step in Croatia's accession into the WTO, which is expected to happen by the middle of next year. (hina) lm 141038 MET jun 97