CROATIAN PREMIER MATESA PLEASED WITH VISIT TO KUWAIT

ZAGREB, March 9 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa returned to Zagreb on Sunday afternoon from a two-day official visit to Kuwait and upon his arrival in the Croatian capital he expressed satisfaction with his tour to the Arab state. "We have come back, satisfied, from a friendly country such as Kuwait," Premier Matesa said and reminded that a few years ago Kuwait experienced the same tragic fate as Croatia did, when it was exposed to Iraqi aggression. "As regards political relations, they are at the highest level, and both countries support each other in the international policy," he said to reporters. During the visit to Kuwait the Croatian delegation tackled mostly economic issues, and meetings were particularly important with the Kuwaiti investment agency and the Kuwait development fund that showed great interest in investment in Croatia, Croatian Premier added. "We talked about concrete projects in infrastructure, tourism and construction, and some of them will start to be implemented soon," he said and mentioned the building of a business centre in Zagreb and investment in hotels. In mid-April we were expecting a Kuwaiti delegation's visit when agreements might be further discussed, he told reporters. Asked whether there was connection between his recent visits to Indonesia, Malaysia and latest tour to Kuwait, Matesa replied that it was part of efforts of the Croatian Government and Chamber of Commerce aimed at enabling Croatian economy to enter new markets and at ensuring new investment in Croatia on the basis of long-term and profitable cooperation and added that he believed that was achieved in the visits to those countries. (hina) mš 091826 MET mar 97