BAVARIA'S "WALTER BAU" TO BUILD MACELJ-KRAPINA HIGHWAY IN CROATIA

ZAGREB, Sept 5 (Hina) - Croatia and Bavarian construction giant Walter Bau are soon to sign agreements on the building of the long- awaited Macelj-Krapina highway (a section of the highway from Zagreb to the border with Slovenia) and the Dubrovnik Bridge, Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa and Bavarian Economy, Transport and Technology Minister Otto Wisheu told reporters in Zagreb on Friday. Immediately after arriving to Croatia for a one-day visit, Wisheu held talks with Matesa. Also present was Croatian Economy Minister Nenad Porges. After the talks, Matesa and Wisheu told reporters they were very satisfied with the political and economic cooperation Croatia and Bavaria achieved so far, as well as with future prospects. Matesa and Wisheu stressed negotiations on the building of the Macelj-Krapina highway and the Dubrovnik Bridge, which lasted for about a year, were nearing end. The two significant infrastructure objects are to be built by the Bavarian Walter Bau construction company. "We can expect the signing of an agreement very soon", Croatia's premier said, "probably this month", he added, and Wisheu confirmed. Matesa said Germany was Croatia's principal trade partner, and Bavaria the biggest there. Half the German investments into Croatia came from Bavaria, he added. According to the Croatian premier, today's talks with Wisheu also focused on a possible introduction of Audi car company plants in Croatia. "We agreed that both sides will do everything for the realization of that project, obviously on the basis of Audi's economic interests", Matesa said. Bavarian Minister Wisheu stressed Europe must realize and support Croatia's efforts to join European integrations. "This means I'm advocating that Croatia be more strongly included into European issues and programmes, and that existing barriers to the realization of certain programmes have to be eliminated", Wisheu said. The European Union's claims that Croatia was not implementing certain parts of the Dayton Accord were out of place, the Bavarian Minister said. "I think problems still exist, but they are not so big to prevent the continuation of negotiations on an agreement on trade and cooperation", Wisheu said, adding Bavaria would support Croatia's efforts to be included in Europe both in Brussels and in Bonn. Minister Wisheu thanked the Croatian government on its decision to purchase planes of the European AirBus consortium worth 250 million German marks, of which 40 percent is to be paid by delivery of Croatian goods. Matesa and Wisheu also talked about the revitalization of the northern Adriatic port of Rijeka and possibilities that Bavarian companies use it as main exit to world seas. Croatian Economy Minister Porges told reporters today's talks also touched on Germany's decision to abolish branch offices of Croatian construction companies on its market, where these companies realize USD 400 million. The Croatian government must find a way to compensate and attenuate this loss to the building trade, said Porges. (hina) ha mm 051456 MET sep 97