CROATIA AND NETHERLANDS SIGN AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT

ZAGREB, April 30 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic and visiting Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo signed an air services agreement in Zagreb on Tuesday. Bilateral relations between Croatia and the Netherlands were very good and the two countries would soon sign agreements on investment, avoiding of double taxation and annulling visa requirements, Granic told a press conference after the talks. Granic described the talks as open and constructive. He said that he informed his guest about Croatia's full confidence in the Transitional Administration of General Jacques Klein in the Danube river area of eastern Croatia and its capability of demilitarizing the area in June according to schedule. Van Mierlo expressed satisfaction with his first official visit to Croatia. Croatia is part of Europe and reports that the Netherlands is opposing its admission to the Council of Europe are wrong, he said when asked to comment on the outcome of a meeting of Council of Europe ministers on Croatia's admission to the pan-European organization. Just the contrary. We support the admission of Croatia to the Council of Europe and the only question we asked was whether it was a right moment for that move, Van Mierlo added. It's not the question of human rights but that of timeliness, he said, adding that the problem was whether it would be opportune to single out one country while the peace processes in the region were still in progress. It's not the question of a principle but a reflection whether it would be better to admit Croatia now or wait for another two or three months, Van Mierlo said. (hina) vm mm 301413 MET apr 96