It is Russia's vital interest to see the Druzhba and Adria petroleum mainlines laid, the ministerial information board said to Novosti. Among other joint projects, Mr. Shoigu's press service highlighted gas and power industrial ventures. Russian companies are active in Croat privatization tenders. Thus, MECHEL Co. has purchased the Zelezara iron-and-steel combine in Sisak. The deal exemplifies fruitful bilateral partnership.
Progress has been made to settle the former USSR's clearing debt to former Yugoslavia-in particular, its Croat part. Practical payment arrangements are under discussion now that the conversion coefficient has been agreed upon, said our informants.
Russia has offered to Croatia for coordination a draft intergovernmental agreement which envisages, in particular, equipment supplies to update the Sisak thermal power plant, export of Russian aircraft-based fire extinguishers, and laying a gas mainline stretch on the Croat-Hungarian frontier.
Croat shipyards are building vessels on Russian corporate orders in another lucrative partnership field. Pharmaceutical companies have stored fine teamwork experience. Construction partnership has a steady pace. Croat-based companies' efforts in Russia are at an annual average $100 million.
The ministry and the Croat Demining Center signed an agreement in October 2002. It gave a practical footing to humanitarian mine-clearing efforts. Works promise to start quite soon.
