CROATIA & ISRAEL TO STRENGTHEN BILATERAL RELATIONS

( Editorial: --> 0075 ) ZAGREB, March 16 (Hina) - Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister Ivo Sanader received the Israeli Foreign Ministry's director for Eastern Europe Zvi Rav Nera on Monday, said a Foreign Ministry statement. Sanader was satisfied with the first official visit by an Israeli official to Croatia as well as bilateral relations to date which he said should be further developed. Economic interests of both sides include agriculture and tourism, which will be stimulated by the establishment of a permanent Zagreb-Tel Aviv air service at the end of March, with many charter flights already planned for this summer. Sanader informed his guests about the successful completion of the UNTAES mission in the Croatian Danube River region and the Croatian Government's efforts in strengthening the Dayton peace process in Bosnia-Herzegovina. They exchanged thoughts on the situation on the former Yugoslavia territory and in the Middle East, concluding that both countries are working on stabilising the situation and building a new international order based on democracy, political stability and peace. (hina) mm mrb/as 161833 MET mar 98