Turkey and Croatia agreed to increase trade and economic relations in the near future, their prime ministers announced at a press conference Monday.
"We have reached an agreement on reinforcing our already good political relations by further developing our trade links," Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said.
His Turkish counterpart Bulent Ecevit said trade between the countries was "extremely insufficient" in the past, and that their governments had decided to improve economic and trade ties.
The two countries exchanged around 39 million dollars (45 million euros) worth of goods in 1999, according to Turkish sources.
The two men also welcomed the "process of democratic change" that had taken place in Yugoslavia under President Vojislav Kustunica.
But Racan, who arrived in Ankara Sunday, warned that the departure from the presidency of Slobodan Milosevic should not be taken to mean all his allies had left the administration.
Ecevit said Yugoslavia must "absolutely bring an end to its policy of ethnic discrimination" and "respect all countries in the region."
Racan, who returns home Tuesday, was due to meet Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and former president Suleyman Demirel before holding talks Tuesday with business leaders in Istanbul -- ANKARA (AFP)
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