The agreements were signed at the Finance Ministry by Minister Ivan Suker and the head of the World Bank Regional Office in Zagreb, Albert Martinez. Also present were Culture Minister Bozo Biskupic, Health Ministry state secretary Velimir Bozikov, Norwegian Ambassador Knut Toraasen, and an advisor at the Japanese Embassy, Hidehiro Hosaka.
The first deed of donation, amounting to 200,000 dollars, was granted by the Norwegian government to the Culture Ministry for the co-financing of the karst preservation project. In 2002, the Global Environment Fund granted 5.07 million dollars for the project via the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The second donation was given by the Japanese government to the Croatian Health Ministry for the drawing up of a sustainable health care system project. Advisor Hosaka voiced hope the money would help in the creation of an effective health care system in Croatia.
Thanking the donors, Finance Minister Suker said the World Bank had granted Croatia 37 deeds of donation exceeding 33 million dollars since Croatia became a member in February 1993.
Martinez said the World Bank would continue assisting Croatia.
Ambassador Toraasen said Croatia had made significant headway in recent years and that it played an important role in regional stability, which he added was why Norway fully supported Croatia's admission to the European Union and NATO.