TEHRAN, June 19 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic, who is in an official three-day visit to Iran, on Monday agreed with his host and counterpart Mohmmad Khatami, that the two countries have excellent political relations,
however, efforts needed to be invested in the development of economic, cultural and sports cooperation. Since Croatia gained independence, we have excellent political relations. We want our economic cooperation to achieve the same level, Mesic told reporters ahead of his talks with Khatami. The Iranian President expressed the same standpoint, adding his country wanted to strengthen relations with Croatia in all fields. Both parties agreed there was a lot of untapped potential in the two countries' relations. Speaking about Croatia's foreign policy, Mesic said Croatia wanted to establish good relations with neighbours, accelerate European association and at the same time cooperate with countries outside
TEHRAN, June 19 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic, who is in
an official three-day visit to Iran, on Monday agreed with his host
and counterpart Mohmmad Khatami, that the two countries have
excellent political relations, however, efforts needed to be
invested in the development of economic, cultural and sports
cooperation.
Since Croatia gained independence, we have excellent political
relations. We want our economic cooperation to achieve the same
level, Mesic told reporters ahead of his talks with Khatami.
The Iranian President expressed the same standpoint, adding his
country wanted to strengthen relations with Croatia in all fields.
Both parties agreed there was a lot of untapped potential in the two
countries' relations.
Speaking about Croatia's foreign policy, Mesic said Croatia wanted
to establish good relations with neighbours, accelerate European
association and at the same time cooperate with countries outside
Europe, primarily with the Islamic world.
"We consider Iran to be one of the friendliest countries," Mesic
said adding he invited the Iranian President to visit Croatia,
which Khatami accepted, while the date of the visit will be set
later.
The Croatian President also expressed satisfaction with Khatami's
recent electoral victory, which resulted in Khatami's re-election
with 77 percent of the vote earlier this month.
The Iranian President advocates social, political and economic
reforms in Iran.
Khatami told reporters Mesic's visit to Iran showed determination
of Croatia and Iran to strengthen their relations. Addressing the
situation in the Balkans, the Iranian President said this was a very
important region in Europe and the world "which unfortunately has a
past of many conflicts and wars", assessing that Croatia,
particularly President Mesic had a great role in the stabilisation
of the region.
After the Mesic-Khatami talks, who are to meet again tomorrow,
Mesic said they also tackled economic cooperation, including
concrete projects with Iranian businessmen.
Mesic arrived in Tehran on Monday with a delegation including
senior businessmen and the head of the Croatian chamber of
commerce.
The Croatian-Iranian economic cooperation is currently at the very
low level and the two presidents called for more trade and economic
cooperation between their countries. Trade between the two
countries totalled only 2.5 million last year.
According to the programme, after the Mesic-Khatami talks, the
Croatian President should meet vice president Ebrahim Hasan and
Foreign Minister Kemal Harazi.
On Wednesday, Mesic will hold talks with Iranian spiritual leader
Sejed Ali Hamnei and parliament speaker Mahdi Karubi. Mesic will
also hold a lecture called " Croatia and Southeast Europe, after
which he will meet the Iranian President once again.
Before returning to Zagreb on Thursday, Mesic will visit the cities
of Siraz and Persepolis.
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