TOMCIC CONFIRMS GOOD RELATIONS BETWEEN ZAGREB AND TIRANA

TIRANA, Jan 6 (Hina) - There are no open issues in relations between Croatia and Albania, and the two countries share the same standpoint on the situation in the region, Croatian and Albanian parliament speakers Zlatko Tomcic and Skender Gjinushi said a joint press conference Tuesday. Gjinushi said that the two countries paid a high price for the war in the former Yugoslavia and therefore they were particularly interested in peace and the stability in Southeast Europe. The two speakers expressed a belief that good political relations between Croatia and Albania should be followed by better economic cooperation between Zagreb and Tirana, particularly in the fields of tourism, the building and pharmaceutical industries and power supply. Tomcic particularly pointed to the significance of cooperation within the Stability Pact and Adriatic-Ionian Initiative. He stressed it was important to ensure funds for the financing of the building of the Adriatic-Ionian highway. The Croatian parliament speaker also announced the holding of a meeting among parliament presidents of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, during Croatia's chairing over of the Initiative, namely by July 1. The two delegations also pointed to the need for the ratification of already signed agreements, particularly the friendship and cooperation agreement, and the cancellation of the visa regime. According to Tomcic, the Croatian parliament will propose that the government first cancel the visa regime for Albanian athletes, artists and businessmen. Croatian and Albanian representatives also discussed possible solutions for the Kosovo crisis. Zagreb advocated a solution within UN Resolution 1244. Tomcic also held talks with Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo and President Rexhep Meidani, as well as representatives of the Albanian parliament. (hina) it sb