CROATIA, MACEDONIA DISCUSS ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN SKOPJE

SKOPLJE, Aug 28 (Hina) - A delegation of the Croatian Return and Immigration Ministry, headed by Deputy Return and Immigration Minister Josip Juras on a four-day visit to Macedonia, held talks on economic cooperation between the two countries in Skopje on Thursday. During talks with Macedonia's Assistant Economy Minister and the president of a mixed Macedonian-Croatian economy commission, Erol Hasan, the two parties expressed satisfaction with the increasing exchange of commodities achieved after the two countries signed a free trade agreement. In the Croatian Embassy in Skopje, the Croatian delegation held talks with representatives of the Association of Croats in Macedonia. About 3,000 Croats live in Macedonia. The Association has over 300 members. The Croatian delegation also held talks with a representative of the Macedonian-Croatian Society which has about 350 members of which 150 are Croats. During the four years it has been active, this organization has become one of the strongest of its kind in Macedonia. It coordinates its activities with the mentioned Association of Croats. Tomorrow, the Croatian delegation should be received by Macedonian Premier and Labour and Social Policy Minister Naser Ziberi, Skopje-Prizren bishop Joakim Herbut, and the metropolitan of the Macedonian Orthodox Church. A meeting with Croats in Bitola is also planned. On Saturday, Deputy Minister Juras will speak about problems Croats encounter abroad, their ties with the mother- country, the promotion of economic ties and possibilities of returning to Croatia. (hina) ha 281736 MET aug 97