PREMIER MATESA GIVES STATEMENT AFTER MEETING U.S. FINANCE MINISTER

MINISTER $ DUBROVNIK, 11 July (Hina) - Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa held talks with the U.S. Finance Minister Mickey Kantor in Dubrovnik on Thursday. The U.S. finance minister, who is visiting Dubrovnik today, will hold several meetings with Croatian and Bosnian government officials during his visit. #L# The first round of talks was successful, Premier Matesa said, adding there was mutual readiness to deal with all current projects. The talks tackled several very important questions regarding relations between Croatia and the United States, Matesa said. The situation in the Croatian Danubian area and in Bosnia- Herzegovina had been described as very good, Matesa said, adding the talks stressed the need for full implementation of the Dayton agreements. The talks also included projects on the construction of a large road infrastructure, especially on the construction of the road Zagreb-Split-Dubrovnik. 'We have discussed the construction of power plants and we have agreed that U.S. companies would construct two thermo-electric power plants in Croatia. One will be constructed in Jertovac and the location of the other one will be determined later. We have also discussed the U.S. support in the process of minesweeping which is very expensive, as well as the U.S. support to Croatia in its efforts to join the World Trade Organisation', Matesa said. The two officials also discussed the need for the stimulation of development of small and medium-sized companies in Croatia. (hina) rm 111258 MET jul 96