CROATIA NOT TO ATTEND MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE IN SOFIA

ZAGREB, May 29 (Hina) - Aid to Croatian Foreign Minister, Hido Biscevic, on Tuesday held talks with Bulgarian Ambassador to Croatia, Ljupce Troharov, which focused on a diplomatic initiative by Bulgarian Premier Zan Videnov on regional cooperation of southeastern European countries, a statement from the Croatian Foreign Ministry said. Biscevic told Troharov that Croatia gave a detailed consideration to the initiative in relation to the current situation and the relations in the region, as well as the actual initiatives within the international community for a so called regional approach to the Balkans. Biscevic informed Troharov of Croatia's decision to not take part in the meeting of foreign ministers to take place in Sofia on 8-9 June, adding that many other important countries in the region had refused participation too. Biscevic pointed out that Croatia was for an active cooperation and the development of good bilateral relations with all countries in Central Europe and the Balkans, stressing that Croatia aimed at tighter economic ties with Central European countries, with which it had geographical, historical and cultural ties, and also aimed at entering European-Atlantic security and economic integrations. Croatia wanted to establish better political and economic relations with Bulgaria, to which the opening of a motorway and the first meeting of a mixed Croatian-Bulgarian commission for the implementation of an economic agreement would contribute. Biscevic announced that Croatian Foreign Minister would visit Bulgaria at the end of June, and thanked Ambassador Troharov for the support of Bulgarian representatives at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. (hina) ha jn 291757 MET may 96