HELSINKI, 11 April (Hina) - As a country which had been giving continual support for Croatia since its recognition, Finland firmly supported Croatia's admission to European integration processes, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic
said after meeting his Finnish counterpart Taria Halonen on Thursday.
HELSINKI, 11 April (Hina) - As a country which had been giving
continual support for Croatia since its recognition, Finland firmly
supported Croatia's admission to European integration processes,
Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said after meeting his
Finnish counterpart Taria Halonen on Thursday. #L#
There are no open political questions between the two
countries and there are great potentials for trade between the two
countries, which in 1995 amounted to 30 million dollars, Granic
said, adding the Finnish side expressed readiness to send an
economic delegation to Croatia soon. Greatest interest in
cooperation with Croatia was being shown by representatives of
Finland's wood industry, industrial design and food industry
equipment producers.
Finland believed in the successful completion of the peaceful
reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area and it appreciated
Croatia's determination to work on the strengthening of the Bosnian
Federation and its linking with Croatia, Granic said.
Minister Halonen was especially interested in overall
prospects of the Bosnia peace process and chances for a lasting
security and stability of the region.
According to Minister Granic, they reached a high level of
understanding as regards prospects of the peace process, the
strengthening of the Federation, the return of refugees and
elections. Granic stressed the role of the Finnish President Martti
Ahtisaari in the solution of the crisis in the region.
The Croatian foreign minister is to meet President Ahtisaari
this afternoon.
The Finnish President was one of the first foreign statesmen
who, in the summer 1995, supported Croatia's military action aimed
at the liberation of its territory.
(hina) rm
111251 MET apr 96