PORGES MEETS SWISS AND CZECH OFFICIALS DURING WTO CONFERENCE

( Editorial: --> 4740 ) GENEVA, May 18 (Hina) - Economy Minister Nenad Porges, who is heading a Croatian delegation at the second Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva, met Swiss and Czech officials on Monday morning to discuss bilateral trade issues. Porges held talks with the Swiss Confederation's State Secretary for Economics Franz Blamkart and the Czech Republic's Deputy Economy Minister Pavel Dvorak. The Croatian minister and the Swiss official discussed bilateral trade relations and the possibilities of their advancement. Blamkart said Switzerland was interested in developing higher forms of economic cooperation, not only in the area of infrastructure. Up to now Switzerland has participated in several infrastructure projects on liberated Croatian territory, but now there is interest in production investment. The political situation in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina was also discussed. Porges and Dvorak discussed the possibility of recommencing free trade negotiations, which are currently at a standstill. The Czechs' standpoint is that these talks should be held parallel with their negotiations on joining the European Union. Dvorak said the Czech Republic would consult with the EU on the possibilities of forming free trade agreements with third countries. The Czech Republic is one of six members of the Central European Free Trade Area which Croatia is trying to join. To become a member of CEFTA, Croatia has to establish bilateral free trade agreements with all of the organisation's member-countries and also join the WTO. The second WTO Ministerial Conference begins in Geneva on Monday with discussions on the work of the organisation up to now and its future activities. A special session will be held on Tuesday to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which preceded the WTO. American President Bill Clinton will address the session. The Croatian Economy Minister will also have more bilateral meetings in Geneva during the conference. (Hina) mb /lm 181708 MET may 98