CROATIAN ECONOMY MINISTER VISITS TURKEY

ANKARA, Aug 25 (Hina) - Croatian Economy Minister Nenad Porges on Monday began the first round of talks with Turkish Industry and Trade Minister Yilmaz Erez. The talks, held in Izmir, should focus on the stimulation of economic, trade and other cooperation between Croatia and Turkey. As expected, the meeting should give fresh impetus to the overall development of relations between Zagreb and Ankara, especially in light of a September meeting between the presidents of the two countries, Croatia's Franjo Tudjman and Turkey's Suleyman Demirel. The general opinion, often heard in both Croatian and Turkish business circles, is that economic and trade cooperation significantly lags behind the level of political relations. Last year's exchange of commodities, which in 1996 reached USD 60 million, is nowhere near the real possibilities and necessities of the two countries. A technical board which should prepare the first session of a mixed Croatian-Turkish board for economic cooperation, to take place on Wednesday, began with its activities in Ankara. (hina) ha jn 251613 MET aug 97