ZAGREB, Jan 25 (Hina) - Relations between Romania and Croatia are very good, and several projects will soon be undertaken with the aim of improving economic cooperation, Prime Ministers Nicolae Vacaroiu of Romania and Zlatko Matesa of
Croatia said during two- hour talks in Zagreb on Thursday.
ZAGREB, Jan 25 (Hina) - Relations between Romania and Croatia are
very good, and several projects will soon be undertaken with the
aim of improving economic cooperation, Prime Ministers Nicolae
Vacaroiu of Romania and Zlatko Matesa of Croatia said during two-
hour talks in Zagreb on Thursday. #L#
Matesa said that Croatia and Romania had excellent political
relations. He welcomed Romania's role in resolving problems and in
peace processes in the region.
Matesa said he told the Romanian officials that Croatia's
political priority included the peaceful reintegration of the
Danubian region, reconstruction of war-damaged areas, return of
displaced persons and economic growth.
Vacaroiu described his visit as very important, stressing that
a number of measures were agreed upon to improve bilateral
relations in the near future.
The talks mainly focused on economic cooperation between the
two countries.
Matesa stressed that Croatia was not completely pleased with
the volume of trade with Romania. Trade was partly being carried
out through third countries, which resulted in increased commodity
prices. He said he believed the problem would be resolved in this
period, making an increase in trade between Croatia and Romania
very likely.
Last year, foreign trade between the two countries was a
little over US$ 17 million.
The problem of promotion of economic relations was expected to
be raised at a bilateral committee meeting scheduled to take place
in Bucharest early next month.
Matesa said that the meeting would discuss possibilities of
establishing a free trade zone between Romania and Croatia and the
participation of Romanian companies in the reconstruction of
Croatia and partly of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Vacaroiu said that his country was interested in the
reconstruction of Croatian cement factories, cooperation between
shipyards in Rijeka and Constancy, and the joint production of
escalators.
Vacaroiu cited good cooperation with the Croatian electronic
company "Koncar" in the production of electronic devices and
electrical appliances, repair of electric locomotives, car
production and metallurgy.
(hina) lm jn
252007 MET jan 96