CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES ALBANIAN COUNTERPART

( Editorial: --> 8450 ) ZAGREB, Dec 15 (Hina) - Croatia and Albania are two friendly countries with no open political questions, Croatia Foreign Minister Mate Granic said on Monday after talks with his Albanian counterpart Paskal Milo. Croatia and Albania have signed many bilateral agreements, and have very similar strategic goals, which are political, economic and security Euro-Atlantic institutions, as well as Croatia's goal to enter Central European institutions, Granic said. "(Milo and I) discussed bilateral relations, how to improve economic, cultural and scientific cooperation. We especially discussed transport connections, via sea, road and rail", Granic said. Talks also touched on cooperation in the petrol industry, Croatia's oil company INA has been present in Albania for many years, as well as cooperation in power supply and agriculture. Croatia's Granic welcomed the fact that Albania had overcome the recent crisis, as well as the strengthening of a democratic system which, he said, would enable stronger cooperation with Croatia. We also talked about the completion of the peaceful reintegration of eastern Croatia, Minister Granic said, adding Croatia expected a UN resolution on the termination of the UNTAES mandate on January 15 1998 to be reached this week. Talks also focused on Croatia's relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Croat-Muslim Bosnian Federation, as well as the Kosovo issue and ways of resolving all open issues in the wider region. The Albanian foreign minister agreed with Croatia's Granic that the two countries have common strategic goals within European institutions. Albania is interested in cooperation within the Central European Initiative which Croatia will chair next year, Milo said. Ţhe Albanian government supports Croatia's role in the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement and the entire stabilisation of the situation in the region, Milo said. The situation in Kosovo is "difficult, burning and dangerous", the Albanian foreign minister said, adding "there is no peace in south- eastern Europe without resolving the Kosovo issue". Milo thanked Croatia for its support during last week's UN resolution on Kosovo which, he said, is very important. According to Croatia's Granic, the respect of territorial integrity and sovereignty was crucial to resolving the Kosovo issue and peace in this part of Europe. Albania's Milo said the way to resolve the matter was democratisation in Serbia and dialogue with Serbia. As regards bilateral cooperation, Milo said Albania was interested in investing in and cooperation with Croatia which, he said, is at a high level of development. (hina) ha 151406 MET dec 97