SLOVENE & CROATIAN AGRICULTURE MINISTERS DISCUSS COOPERATION

( Editorial: --> 8808 ) ZAGREB, July 20 (Hina) - Croatian and Slovene Agriculture Ministers on Monday met in Zagreb for talks on the implementation of a free trade agreement, possibilities of exporting Croatian wheat and Slovene milk and Croatia's access to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Both Ministers assessed the talks as useful. Slovenia is supportive of Croatia to enter the WTO as soon as possible, said Croatia's Zlatko Dominikovic. His talks with the Slovene colleague also focused on barter business, Dominikovic said, adding Slovenia was an outstandingly important trade partner for Croatia in view of the high export of Slovene agricultural products. Slovenia's Ciril Smrkolj confirmed that Slovene experts were interested in Croatia's becoming a WTO member as soon as possible. Today it was agreed that experts from the two countries should meet before the next round of talks in Geneva, Smrkolj said. The two Agriculture Ministers also discussed possibilities of exporting Croatian wheat to Slovenia, in which Slovenia has a long- term interest. This year Croatia will not be exporting wheat to the neighbouring country, but it is a possibility for next year. Today's talks also tackled Slovenia's lasting problem, the export of milk. Smrkolj hoped that business partners would find a solution for the purchase of seasonal surplus milk. Both Ministers agreed that a free trade agreement between Croatia and Slovenia was being implemented, albeit in low percentage. An analysis in the first year of implementation should indicate how to improve future implementation, said Smrkolj. He added that today's talks also touched on cooperation in forestry and hunting. (hina) ha jn 201701 MET jul 98