REPS FROM CENTRAL EUROPEAN INITIATIVE STATES MEET IN SKOPJE

SKOPJE, March 25 (Hina) - A conference on foreign trade of Central European Initiative (CEI) member states today began in the Macedonian capital of Skopje. The conference was opened bz Macedonia's Foreign Minister, Stevo Crvenksovski, and Slovenia's Development Minister, Janko Delzak, who presided over the gathering. The meeting was attended by representatives from Austria, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Italy, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia. Albania, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine were observers. Minister Ivan Majdak of Croatia stressed the changes in the restructuring of the Croatian economy, and said that Croatia was interested in improving its cooperation with Central European Initiative member states and the European Union. He said that CEI countries should be admitted to European and world trade systems, and added that Croatia would be given support from the countries participating in the conference for its admission to the membership of the Council of Europe and other international institutions. During a break, Majdak told reporters that ministers' reports focused on the creation of conditions for the development of every country and for their mutual cooperation. The conference adopted a final document which said that the efforts of the associaton should be aimed at furthering economic transformation of its member states and removing obstacles slowind down their integration with the European Union. The document expressed willingness to help to revitalize the war-devastated areas of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. (hina) vm 251847 MET mar 95