Athens, 27/04/2002 (ANA)

Greece is expected to sign an economic and technical cooperation agreement with Yugoslavia in a move that will aid reconstruction.

Signing of the pact is expected in the first half of May when Prime Minister Costas Simitis visits Belgrade, accompanied by business representatives interested in sounding out investment opportunities in the neighboring country.

The cooperation agreement was initialed in Athens on Friday by Yugoslavia's deputy minister for external economic relations, Boran Karajole, who told reporters that Athens-quoted Hellenic Petroleum had expressed investment interest to the government.

Titan Cement Co., a blue chip on the Athens bourse, recently launched operations in Yugoslavia; and National Bank of Greece, also a blue chip company and the country's largest bank, was considering opening outlets in major cities after recently launching a branch in Belgrade, the official noted.