AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR AND CROATIAN PREMIER DISCUSS ECONOMIC COOPERATION

COOPERATION $ VIENNA, Oct 16 (Hina) - Austrian Chancellor Viktor Klima and Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa met in Vienna on Thursday to consider economic cooperation between the two countries. During one-hour talks Klima and Matesa agreed that it was necessary to promote the Austrian-Croatian cooperation in areas of the banking, finances and comprehensive infrastructure projects. They said that there were no disputable issues in the relations between the two countries. "Our economic cooperation is being promoted in the best possible way, and broadened as well. Austria is already Croatia's fourth partner," the Croatian Premier said after the talks. Matesa, who is heading a Croatian delegation on a working visit to Vienna, pointed out possibilities of better cooperation in the banking, finances and comprehensive infrastructure projects. The Austrian Chancellor and he agreed that the two countries would work together on reconstruction of the railway lines and roads passing through third countries. Croatia and Austria would offer Slovenia to cooperate in such projects, Matesa added. He informed Klima about the process of peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube river area. "I gave assurances that there are no important reasons why the peaceful reintegration process in the Croatian Danube area should enter a stalemate, and I gave assurances that Croatia is absolutely capable of completing the UNTAES mandate as planned," Matesa said. Commenting on the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Matesa said that he and the Austrian top official agreed that there was no alternative to the Dayton and Washington agreements and that the role of Croatia was important in the peace process. Croatia did not shirk it responsibility, but it wanted to be an equal participant in the process and would like that its interests be respected in line with signed agreements, he added. Matesa invited Chancellor Klima to visit Croatia, and the Austrian Chancellor accepted the invitation. During this working visit in Vienna, the Croatian delegation will take part in a seminar on opportunities of foreign investment in Croatia. (hina) mš 161411 MET oct 97