VALENTIC-MEKSI TALKS

ZAGREB, Dec 1 (Hina) - Prime Ministers of Croatia and Albania, Nikica Valentic and Aleksandar Meksi, and several government officials from both countries, today met for official talks in Zagreb. The talks focused on ways to achieve a peaceful settlement of the crisis in former Yugoslavia and prospects for promoting economic cooperation between Croatia and Albania. Speaking of the Bihac situation, Prime Minister Valentic said Croatia, although advocating a peaceful solution, could not remain a passive observer if Bihac fell into Serb hands. He said the fall of Bihac would completely ruin the credibility of the United Nations. Croatia favoured a peaceful reintegration of the occupied areas, but did not lack in resolve and strength to end the crisis on its territory by "other means" if negotiations failed. As for the extension of the UNPROFOR mandate, Croatia will consult its allies and then decide what course to take, Valentic said. Premier Meksi condemned the Serb aggression on Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, adding that the international community had proved incapable of resolving the conflict. "If the conflict were to spill over to Kosovo, it would mean war for Albania, too," Meksi said. The two premiers agreed that Croatia and Albania had unused potentials for economic cooperation, particularly in the fields of industry, oil, agriculture and tourism. Three bilateral agreements - on sea transport, road traffic and double taxation avoidance - are to be signed tomorrow. The Albanian delegation included Mineral Resources Minister Abdyl Xhaja, Education Minister Xhezair Teliti, Transport Minister Fatos Bitincka, Deputy Finance Minister Robert Ceku and Albanian ambassador to Croatia Franko Kroqi. The Croatian delegation included Transport and Communications Minister Ivica Mudrinic, Education Miniser Ljilja Vokic, Deputy Foreign Minister Ivo Sanader, Deputy Finance Minister Josko Zavoreo, Deputy Economy Minister Jasna Boric, presidential advisor Nenad Porges and Croatian ambassador to Albania Mladen Juricic. (hina) as 011234 MET dec 94