May 10, The Iran Project - This week, Croatia�s Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Martina Dali? arrived in Tehran to discuss issues of mutual interests with top Iranian officials.

While in Tehran, Dalic held separate meetings with senior officials including Vice-President and Head of the Plan and Budget Organization Mohammad-Baqer Nobakht, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Valiollah Seif, his Iranian counterpart Masoud Karbasian and Head of Organization for Investment Economic and Technical Assistance of Iran Mohammad Khazaei.

Talking to Nobakht, Dali? said the financial and banking restrictions are preventing the expansion of economic interactions between Iran and Croatia.

Central Bank of Croatia believes that the country has no problem for boosting economic ties with Iran, the minister said, expressing hope that the major European banks would help the financial interactions between the two countries.

The Iranian vice-president, for his part, said that the Iranian government is determined to expand relations with Croatia.

Nobakht pledged on behalf of the Iranian government to make every effort to remove the obstacles on the economic relations between both the state-owned and private sectors of the two countries.

Speaking to Dalic, Seif said, �undoubtedly, lack of proper banking relationships will cause loss of opportunities between the two countries, adding, �given the amicable and proper relationship between the two countries, suitable ways have been paved for broadening and enhancing banking relationship between Iran and Croatia.�

In turn, Dali?, pointed to the measures taken in this regard and noted, �although there are some irregularities and disturbances in the ideal banking relationship, we can encourage and support banks of the two countries to start brokerage relationship.�

In the meeting, Karbasian told Dalic that his ministry would do all within its power to expand economic, industrial and banking cooperation with Croatia.

He said that customs affairs and supporting joint investments in both countries are among suitable areas of cooperation between Tehran and Zagreb, hoping that relevant agreements would be finalized soon.

The Croatian minister also announced his country's interest in promoting cooperation with the Islamic Republic in various fields.

Meanwhile, Khazaei declared banking cooperation between Iran and Croatia, adding that Ms. Dalic is a political weight in Croatia and the European Union, so her presence in Tehran indicates Croatia's attention and intention to develop economic ties with Iran.

Dalic, for her part, said Croatian National Bank urged its banks to remove the legal problems with Iran.

She went on to say that both countries are capable of developing cooperation in oil, gas, petrochemical, ship manufacturing, machineries, industry, pharmaceutical and food stuff fields.