CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER HOLDS CONSTRUCTIVE TALKS IN SWEDEN

STOCKHOLM, March 7 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said on Thursday that he had constructive talks with his Swedish hosts on all major issues concerning relations between the two countries. Granic met Foreign Minister Lena Hjelm-Wallen and Immigration Minister Leif Blumberg for talks on the situation in the former Yugoslavia, the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian region, human rights and Croatia's cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague. He told a press conference that the talks also focused on the admission of Croatia to European integration processes and bilateral relations. Granic said that his hosts agreed that the Croatian Danubian region should be reintegrated peacefully and that Sweden was willing to contribute to the process. Granic emphasized in all his meetings that Croatia fully supported the Bosnian Federation. His talks also concentrated on human rights issues in the region and Croatia and on measures Croatia undertook to promote the human rights situation after a Croatian military operation in early August last year. In this respect, Granic said that at this momement it was necessary to provide support to Croatia, particularly to its efforts to enter European integrations, including the Council of Europe, PHARE, economic cooperation program and NATO's Partnership for Peace program. Sweden, as an influential member of the European Union as regards human rights issues, supported Croatian efforts, coordinating its policies with other EU members, he said. Speaking of bilateral relations, Granic said that Sweden showed a great interest in economic cooperation with Croatia. Commodity trade between the two countries totalled USD 150 million last year and was expected to increase substantially this year. Granic said that Sweden was very interested in investing in Croatia, citing cooperation between the Swedish company Ericsson and Croatia's Tesla. He added that there were great opportunities for business cooperation in shipbuilding, telecommunications, modern technology and tourism. Later in the day, Granic was also expected to meet representatives of Croatian associations. He would conclude his visit to Sweden on Friday morning. (hina) vm 072139 MET mar 96