CROATIAN PREMIER VALENTIC MEETS IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VELAYATI

ZAGREB, May 8 (Hina) - Croatian prime minister Nikica Valentic received Iranian foreign minister Ali Akbar Velayati in Zagreb on Saturday evening. "We have led friendly talks with the Croatian premier and we are happy that we have had an opportunity to come here after less than a week of premier Valentic's visit to Iran, and to talk about the implementation of agreements signed during Croatian premier visit's to Tehran," said Iranian foreign minister upon last evening's meeting. Prime minister Valentic and his eminent guest from Iran discussed bilateral relations between Croatia and Iran as well as tripartite cooperation of the two countries and Bosnia-Herzegovina. "The meeting is important because we have just returned from Sarajevo where we led very constructive talks with the president of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegovic," said minister Velayati. He expressed hope that Croatian and Bosnian governments would manage to implement the Washington agreements. Minister Velayati added that Croatia and Iran would soon undertake new positive steps aimed at strengthening their bilateral relations. Croatian prime minister said that his meeting with foreign minister Velayati presented continuation of concrete talks on the bilateral relations resumed in Tehran. Furthermore, Croatian premier and Iranian foreign minister discussed tripartite relations of Iran, B-H, and Croatia. "I believe we shall very soon establish a joint economic commission between the tree countries with a task to undertake joint venture in the world, and especially in the Islamic countries where the joint Bosnian-Herzegovinian and Croatian companies can carry out great investment projects," stressed Croatian prime minister. He also said that it would be in the interest of Moslems and Croats in B-H first of all, as well as of B-H as the country, but also in the interest of Croatia as its neighbouring state, and finally in the interest of Iran. 081009 MET may 94