FOREIGN BANKS INTERESTED TO INVEST IN CRO ISLANDS' AIRPORTS

STARI GRAD NA HVARU, August 25 (Hina) - Croatian Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications Zeljko Luzavec on Sunday discussed the connection of the island of Hvar, southern Adriatic, and other Dalmatian islands with the land, with, among others, Split County Prefect Kruno Peronja, managers of several shipping companies and the Mayor of the City of Hvar. Talks were held in Stari Grad on the Hvar island, where today Luzavec opened an international swimming marathon. "This year's tourism surprised even the optimists, but at the same time it showed all the shortages which we must solve by next year's season, when a real tourist invasion is expected in this part of Croatia", Luzavec said, pointing out that unsuitable ferryboat harbours were the main limiting factor in island tourism. He announced that a connection of the northern Adriatic with Dalmatia and the south, to Greece, was planned for 1997, stressing that this route must include Hvar, which should have a good harbour for the biggest ships to put in. The Croatian government and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications would second the building of island airports, Luzavec said, and be the guarantor of foreign banks' credits for the building. World and European banks were very interested to invest in these airports, including USD 25 million to build airports on the islands of Hvar and Korcula and to finance an extension of a take off-landing runway on the airport of the island of Losinj, northern Adriatic, said Luzavec. (hina) ha 251410 MET aug 96