CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS OUTGOING BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR

ZAGREB, July 1 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic, on Tuesday received the outgoing Bulgarian Ambassador in Zagreb, Ljubce Troharov, the ministry said. Minister Granic thanked Ambassador Troharov for his great contribution to the promotion of the Croatian-Bulgarian ties. At the meeting it was announced that Minister Granic would visit Sofia in mid-July, and that talks on signing a free trade zone agreement would begin. Minister Granic and Ambassador Troharov said that the signing of an agreement on road and rail traffic between Croatia and Yugoslavia would contribute to furtherance of transport and economic cooperation between Croatia and Bulgaria. Speaking of Croatian and Bulgarian foreign policies' strategic goals regarding the bid for entrance into EuroAtlantic integration processes, the two officials voiced readiness of their countries to cooperate in the goals' accomplishment. Croatian Parliament President Vlatko Pavletic also received the outgoing Bulgarian Ambassador on Tuesday. (hina) jn mš 011215 MET jul 97