CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ENDS VISIT TO VENEZUELA

( Editorial: --> 3504 ) CARACAS, Nov 25 (Hina) - The visits of the Croatian delegation to Brazil and Venezuela opened the doors to political, economic, cultural, scientific and other cooperation between Croatia and these two important South American countries, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said in Caracas on Monday evening, at the end of his visit to Venezuela. Speaking about talks he and the Croatian delegation held with high ranking Brazilian and Venezuelan officials, Granic said that possibilities of economic cooperation had been opened, based on Croatia's geostrategic advantages on the one hand and great potentials of Brazil and Venezuela on the other. The Croatian delegation had agreed with both countries to sign agreements on stimulating economic, cultural, scientific and other forms of cooperation, as well as visits of high state officials and business people to Croatia, which would contribute to the development of cooperation with the two countries, he added. Granic especially stressed the advantages provided by the Croatian port of Rijeka, Croatian roads and the Adriatic pipe line in the development of future relations with Brazil and Venezuela, because both these countries are interested in export transport routes to central and eastern Europe. There is also a big interest in cooperation in other fields, such as in the shipbuilding, pharmaceutical and oil industries. The recent opening of the Croatian embassy in Brasilia was of great importance for cooperation with South America. He also stressed the contribution of Croatian emigrants to the development of relations between Croatia and these countries of increasing political and economic power. The Croatian community in both countries was well organised, respected and influential, Granic said. These two visits had come at a right time, when the UNTAES mandate was being successfully completed and when Croatia could more than earlier get involved in the development of economic and other relations with all countries of the world, based on friendship and mutual interests, Granic said. Granic and the Croatian delegation are to return to Zagreb on Tuesday morning. (hina) lm 251021 MET nov 97