ZAGREB, May 2 (Hina) - Relations between Croatia and New Zealand are constantly improving, however, trade between the two countries is very poor, Croatia's and New Zealand's Foreign Ministers Tonino Picula and Phill Goff respectively
said at a meeting in Zagreb on Thursday.
ZAGREB, May 2 (Hina) - Relations between Croatia and New Zealand are
constantly improving, however, trade between the two countries is
very poor, Croatia's and New Zealand's Foreign Ministers Tonino
Picula and Phill Goff respectively said at a meeting in Zagreb on
Thursday. #L#
Goff said that the two countries had had close relations for more
than a century thanks to a large Croat community which
significantly contributed to the development of New Zealand. The
Croat community will remain the link on which the two countries will
continue to build their relations, Goff said.
Picula told reporters that the meeting focused on upcoming talks on
a social insurance agreement, which he said would be useful for a
large number of New Zealand citizens of Croat descent.
"Unfortunately, we have not managed to overcome the geographic
distance in the area of economy. Trade is exceptionally poor, it
amounts to only slightly more than a million dollars annually,"
Picula said. He said that he had informed his counterpart, who is
also the Foreign Trade Minister, that companies from New Zealand
could count on Croatia, especially now that the two countries had
signed a set of agreements on free trade in the past two years.
The two officials also discussed the situation in the region. New
Zealand has representatives in the Stabilisation Force (SFOR)
Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the U.N. Mission on Prevlaka.
Picula said that he expected the U.N. Mission on Prevlaka to be
completed by the end of the year.
After meeting Picula, Goff opened a consulate of New Zealand in
Zagreb.
(hina) rml sb