Croatia's Ambassador: Vice-premier Slavko Linic's Moscow Visit To Reinvigorate Trade-Economic Relations

The Moscow visit of Slavko Linic, Vice-Premier of Croatia, will reinvigorate trade-economic contacts between Russia and Croatia, Ambassador of Croatia to Russia Hidajet Biscevic said to RIA Novosti in an interview on Wednesday. The diplomat stressed that a recent get-together between Croatian Vice-Premier Slavko Linic and Russian Vice-Premier and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin "has provided a very positive impulse in economic and trade relations between the two countries". The Russian side, he said, has with interest reacted to Zagreb's desire to rectify the existing imbalance in trade with Russia, resulting from Croatia's massive purchases of Russian energy-carriers. By way of resolving this problem representatives of Croatia have reported their readiness to receive Russian ship-building orders, increase supplies to Russia of products of their food, wood-working and tobacco industries. In addition, Croatia is interested in operation of its building companies in Russia and the participation of Russian companies in the privatisation of Croatian tourist facilities, as well as laying gas pipelines along the Adriatic resort zone. The Croatian ambassador noted that the sides have agreed to begin active work on the Croatian proposals within the framework of the intergovernmental Russian-Croatian commission for economic and trade cooperation. A regular sitting of the commission is expected next March in Moscow.