ZAGREB, Oct 24 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula on Thursday met his Ukrainian counterpart Anatoly Zlenko, who is part of a state delegation with President Leonyd Kuchma at the helm on an official visit to Croatia, the
Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
ZAGREB, Oct 24 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula on
Thursday met his Ukrainian counterpart Anatoly Zlenko, who is part
of a state delegation with President Leonyd Kuchma at the helm on an
official visit to Croatia, the Foreign Ministry said in a
statement. #L#
At the beginning of the meeting, Picula expressed concern over a
hostage crisis in a Moscow theatre, where several hundred people,
including some 20 Ukrainian citizens, are being held hostage by a
group of armed persons. Picula believes this is yet another
indicator that the fight against international crime and terrorism
has no boundaries and that it affects all states. The international
community must strengthen cooperation to the benefit of joint
security, Picula is quoted as saying.
The two officials said political tie between the two countries were
very good, agreeing that economic relations were not as good and
that additional efforts had to be invested to promote them.
Picula and Zlenko believe a coming meeting of a joint economic
commission will give impetus to the development of those
relations.
The two ministers agree that their countries are cooperating very
successfully in many international organisations.
The Ukrainian minister said he was satisfied with the position of
the Ukrainian minority in Croatia, stressing that both governments
would continue assisting the Association of Ruthanians and
Ukrainians in Croatia. At the end of the meeting Zlenko reiterated
his invitation to Minister Picula to visit Kiev in the first half of
next year, which Picula was glad to accept.
(hina) rml