BELGRADE, Oct 23 (Hina) - The agriculture ministries of Serbia and Croatia harmonised at a two-day meeting in Belgrade their views on all aspects of a treaty on free trade in agricultural produce and food items. The two governments
are expected to initial the document in coming days so that it could be signed at the next meeting in Zagreb, scheduled for 5 November, Serbian Agriculture Minister Dragan Veselinov and his Croatian counterpart, Bozidar Pankretic, said at a news conference in Belgrade on Wednesday.
BELGRADE, Oct 23 (Hina) - The agriculture ministries of Serbia and
Croatia harmonised at a two-day meeting in Belgrade their views on
all aspects of a treaty on free trade in agricultural produce and
food items. The two governments are expected to initial the
document in coming days so that it could be signed at the next
meeting in Zagreb, scheduled for 5 November, Serbian Agriculture
Minister Dragan Veselinov and his Croatian counterpart, Bozidar
Pankretic, said at a news conference in Belgrade on Wednesday. #L#
Minister Pankretic said the meeting of Croatian and Serbian
business people had been held in "an exceptionally constructive and
responsible atmosphere".
"The interest of both countries' business people in cooperation is
great, and a free trade agreement should be signed as soon as
possible," the Croatian official added.
He stressed that the two countries should increase their trade in
agricultural produce as early as in the second quarter of 2003.
Minister Veselinov said the Serbian government would initial the
agreement in the coming days, and forward it to the government of
the Yugoslav federation (FRY), which is authorised to conclude free
trade agreements.
"The agriculture systems of our countries are similar in many
aspects, we come from the same agricultural programme, and we share
compatible heritage," the Serbian minister said, adding that the
joint task would be to strengthen regional cooperation and
introduce specific regional projects.
As regards the treaty, the two sides agreed on three groups of
regimes for trade in agricultural and food products.
The first group, which has been exempt from customs tariffs and
quotas, includes 73 kinds of products such as material for cattle-,
pig- and sheep-breeding, fruit and vegetables etc.
The second group, with tariff rates five to ten percent lower than
the existing ones in Serbia and about 50 percent lower than the
current import tariffs in Croatia, includes some fruits and
vegetables and their re-made products.
The third group retains the current regime of tariff rates and
quotas and refers to strategic products such as cereal grains, oil,
sugar, wine, tobacco, milk etc. Veselinov announced that some
changes could be expected in this group as well.
(hina) ms