CRO FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS SOUTH KOREAN COUNTERPART, PRESIDENT

SEOUL, Dec 12 (Hina) - The Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Korea are developing good friendly and political relations and their economic cooperation is increasing, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said on Thursday after a meeting in Seoul with South Korean President Kim Young Sam and Foreign Minister Yoo Chong Ha. Describing the cooperation between the two countries within the United Nations as "particularly good", Granic said that Thursday's talks primarily focused on promoting economic cooperation. The two sides discussed the signing of several bilateral agreements, including those on the promotion and protection of investment, avoidance of double taxation, scientific and technological cooperation, and the cancellation of visa requirements for diplomats and business people. So far, Croatia and South Korea have concluded a trade agreement, which was signed in Zagreb in June 1995. "The Republic of Korea has a great interest in investing in the Republic of Croatia," Granic emphasized, adding that the greatest interest was shown in the tourist industry, shipbuilding, telecommunications and the car industry. It is also interested in concessions for road construction. Noting that South Korea was one of the leading investors in Central and Eastern European countries, such as the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania, Granic expressed a hope that it would also be present in Croatia. In this context, the talks were being held at the right moment, he added. As a very important fact in the relations between the two countries, Granic stressed the strong support South Korea had offered Croatia for the peaceful reintegration of the UN- administered Danube river region and in the peace process in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Granic said that Croatia supported South Korea in the process of peaceful unification with North Korea. The talks also focused on an announcement by Samsung corporation to invest in the construction of a container terminal in the northern Croatian Adriatic port of Rijeka, which had won the support of the South Korean government, Granic said, expressing a hope that this "important project" would be carried out soon. (hina) vm mm 121218 MET dec 96