He was heading a business delegation accompanying Croatian President Ivo Josipovic on a visit to Qatar. One of the topics of the talks was Qatar's participation in the construction of a EUR 600 million LNG terminal on the Croatian island of Krk.

Cacic told reporters his meetings with Qatari officials "confirmed the key element for Croatia during this visit, namely Qatar's willingness and interest to support the LNG project over 25 years." "When you have such a long term arrangement, you can launch an investment," he added.

Cacic said Qatar was also interested in participating in the LNG terminal together with other potential partners.

He said Emir Al-Thani "is well-acquainted with the project and regretted that we didn't reach an agreement on the LNG terminal a dozen years ago, because the previous government terminated the project in 2005."

Cacic said Al-Thani "gave a precise and clear instruction to Energy and Industry Minister Mohammed Saleh Abdulla Al Sada that we continue the talks," adding that the project should be defined by the Emir's visit to Croatia next year.

Cacic said "the world's best consultants will be used in the negotiations with Qatar because this is an enormous investment and a long term project," adding that the partners as well as the supply, financial and technical terms must be defined in the next few months.

As previously announced, Emir Al-Thani will most probably pay a reciprocal visit to Croatia in spring 2013 for the opening of an Islamic Centre in Rijeka, whose construction was largely funded by Qatar.

Cacic went on to say that within the next three weeks, Croatian and Qatari representatives would make a list of "the necessary information, questions and proposals."

"It's good that they know the project, because they mastered both the location and the project from 2003 to 2005," he said, expecting both sides to be ready for a meeting within three weeks, when a Qatari delegation headed by Minister Al Sada is expected to visit Zagreb.

Asked if the arrival of Qatari gas meant that Croatian citizens would pay less for gas, Cacic said competition "usually means a price reduction" and that it would impact supply in this whole region.

Asked if Qatari officials believed Croatia now, after the failed first attempt to develop an LNG terminal on Krk a dozen years ago, Cacic said "they had reason to be sceptical... But this time we have clearly told them the president certainly has three, and probably eight, more years in office, that the government certainly has three more years in office, hopefully seven."

"What's beyond question is that this project has to be defined, launched and financially closed within three years and that nobody can stop it," he said, adding that Qatar was interested in other hydroelectric power and tourism projects as well.

The Croatian business delegation, comprising more than 40 representatives of Croatian companies, met with Qatari businessmen earlier today and will present possibilities of investing and doing business in Croatia at an economic forum on Tuesday.

A Croatian Embassy was opened in Doha on Sunday, the first in a Persian Gulf country. It is expected to facilitate the arrival of Croatian business people to the market of one of the world's richest countries.