MESIC HOLDS TALKS WITH CZECH PM ZEMAN

PRAGUE, March 7 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic on Wednesday held talks with Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman on concrete topics, such as the return of the Croatian clearing debt. The talks were held in Prague on the second and closing day of Mesic's visit to the Czech Republic. Mesic said the talks with Zeman were among the most important he held in Prague. He told reporters the Czech side proposed settling the clearing debt through majority interest in Croatian hotels. Mesic said the proposal was good but that it should be considered by the Croatian government. The Czech side told the President the next summer tourist season would be the best thus far as far as Czech arrivals were concerned. Mesic and Zeman also discussed possibilities of Czech investing in Croatia's economy and the regulation of free real estate trade. The two officials also shared the two countries' experience in privatisation. They agreed central banks must be independent of the executive authority and stressed the monetary policy must be in the function of development. "We are now improving the good political relations with the Czech Republic, while this visit will give special impetus to economic cooperation," said Mesic. (hina) ha