Ireland's Ahern is on an official visit to Croatia. We have very cordial and friendly relations with Croatia, which I hope we can strengthen and deepen even more in the years to come, he said.
Croatia's Sanader said the two countries had good foundations for economic and other forms of cooperation. "We wish to cooperate in all areas, from culture and science to cooperation on the road to the EU."
Sanader said Ireland had supported Croatia on its path to the European Union from the start and that he thanked Ahern for the fact that Croatia was given a positive opinion for EU entry negotiations and candidate status during Ireland's EU presidency in the first half of 2004. He also thanked Ahern's personal efforts in that regard.
Ahern said the launching of Croatia's entry negotiations last month was a very positive development for other countries in the region and their membership aspirations.
He went on to say that in recent years Ireland had done its best to offer Croatia technical assistance. We are here to help you with our experience regarding structural funds, cohesive funds and attracting foreign direct investment, he said.
Sanader informed his Irish counterpart of the course of the Croatia-EU negotiations. He stressed that Croatia did not want to focus on the accession date but on effective and quality negotiations, and that the objective was to vote in the 2009 elections for the European Parliament.
Sanader said Croatia was also studying the so-called Irish miracle and that it had many things to learn from Ireland.
He recalled that Croatia had used Ireland's experience in facilitating the establishment of companies and opening businesses, and said that Ahern offered that cooperation in this respect continue.
Sanader said several Croatian officials would be sent to Ireland to see how to attract foreign direct investment.
He also announced that in cooperation with the Croatian National Bank, the Irish National Bank would issue a 10 euro coin in April, with Ivan Mestrovic's harp, on the 80th anniversary of Ireland's leaving Great Britain and introducing its own currency. The Croatian sculptor applied for designing the Irish currency in 1926 and his design was accepted.
Ahern was also received by Croatian Parliament Speaker Vladimir Seks.
The Irish PM commended Croatia for its progress in political and economic reforms, saying the adjustment of national legislation to European standards was a huge challenge for every parliament.
Seks said Croatian-Irish relations were very good, including parliamentary cooperation. He supported the possibility that the chairman of the Irish parliament's committee on agriculture and food, Johnny Brady, visit Croatia and share his country's experience with Croatian deputies as part of preparations for the EU.
Ahern and associates were also received by President Stjepan Mesic, who urged intensifying bilateral cooperation, notably in the economy.
The Irish official voiced optimism regarding Croatia's accession to the EU by 2009, Mesic's office said in a statement.