CROATIA, US SOON TO SIGN AGREEMENTS ON INVESTMENTS, DOUBLE TAXATIO

TAXATIO $ N AVOIDANCE ZAGREB, March 8 (Hina) - US Trade Minister Ron Brown would soon visit Croatia to discuss bilateral agreements on investments and double taxation avoidance, US Ambassador to Croatia Peter Galbraith said Friday. The announcement was made at a panel on "Post-Dayton Cooperation between Croatia and the United States" organised by the Croatian Society of Political Scientists. The main topics addressed by Galbraith's paper included ways to boost the American-Croatian partnership, the reintegration of the Danubian area, the implementation of the Croat-Moslem Federation, the respect of human rights and cooperation with the International War Crimes Tribunal. "The relations between the two countries are better and stronger than ever," Galbraith said. "We are allies who are working together to promote peace." The Dayton Agreement involved two major achievements: the implementation of the Croat-Moslem Federation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the agreement on peaceful reintegration of eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Srijem, Galbraith said. "I would consider reintegration as successful if all residents of these areas, both Croat refugees expelled in 1991 and Serbs who wish to return to Croatia, returned to their homes," he said. If Croatia wanted to be accepted by the international community, it must meet the standards set by democratic societies, Galbraith warned, emphasising the importance of respecting human rights and freedoms. (hina) as 082145 MET mar 96