KING HARALD V OF NORWAY RECEIVES CROATIA'S GRANIC

OSLO, March 6 (Hina) - The King Harald V of Norway today received Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mate Granic, who is on a two-day official visit to Norway. Minister Granic and his Norwegian counterpart Bjorn Tore Godal this morning signed agreements on trade and economic cooperation, road traffic and air traffic. The two ministers also exchanged notes on temporary modalities of double taxation avoidance while a proper agreement to that effect was being drafted. This morning, Minister Granic and Norwegian Trade and Shipping Minister Greta Knudsen opened a panel on Croatian-Norwegian economic cooperation. Ministers Granic and Godal today discussed the situation in former Yugoslavia and ways to promote political and economic cooperation between the two countries. The Norwegian Foreign Minister today told a press conference that his country wished for a successful implementation of the Dayton Agreement and the Agreement on Eastern Slavonia and was interested in a safe return of all refugees from eastern Slavonia to their homes. He added that Norway would soon appoint its ambassador to Croatia who would be based in Zagreb, which was another proof of good Norwegian-Croatian relations. According to Minister Granic, there were great opportunities for increasing Croatian-Norwegian economic cooperation. Among other things, Norway was intersted in ordering ships from Croatia (so far, Croatian shipyards have built 54 ships for Norwegian clients) and taking part in privatization. Other areas of interest were oil industry, tourism and shipping equipment industry. Norway supported Croatia's admission to European integrations, such as NATO's Partnership for Peace programme, the Council of Europe and PHARE. (hina) mm as 061501 MET mar 96