TWO-DAY BUSINESS CONFERENCE ON CROATIA OPENS IN BRUSSELS

BRUSSELS, Oct 15 (Hina) - A two-day conference on trade and investment prospects in Croatia opened in Brussels on Tuesday. The gathering, involving representatives of companies and financial institutions from about 20 countries, was addressed by the president of the Belgian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce and member of the European Parliament, Willy De Clercq. De Clercq focused in his opening remarks on a proposed strategy of the development of relations between the European Union and the countries of Southeastern Europe. Speaking of requirements which Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Yugoslavia would have to meet to establish closer ties with the EU, he stressed the need for the consistent implementation of the Dayton peace agreement and regional cooperation. In its relations with the countries of the region, the EU should take into account the particularities of each country, he said. The EU should reserve the right to suspend cooperation with any of the countries in the region which threatened peace and stability or violated human rights, he added. De Clercq said that the aims of the EU were political stability and economic development in the region, emphasizing that regional cooperation would in no way mean the restoration of a political structure similar to the former Yugoslavia. De Clercq expressed hope that the negotiations on cooperation between the EU and Croatia, frozen since August 1995, would resume soon. In his address to the conference, Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa spoke of the main features of macroeconomic stabilization in Croatia and the potential of the Croatian economy. Matesa emphasized advantages of the Croatian economy in comparison to regional countries and some Central European countries. "Despite all difficulties in the recent years, Croatia has achieved an enviable stability in mecroeconomic terms. "Croatia has also adapted its legislative system to European and world standards and thus opened its way to European and world markets," Matesa said. Matesa said that Croatian foreign policy had four main goals: the peaceful reintegration of the UN-administered area of eastern Croatia, the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement, the normalization of relations with the neighbouring countries and regional cooperation, such as cooperation with CEFTA, and finally the establishment of closer ties and admission to the European Union. The meeting would also be addressed by National Bank of Croatia Governor Marko Skreb, Deputy Prime Minister Borislav Skegro and Foreign Minister Mate Granic. (hina) vm 151241 MET oct 96