ZAGREB, Sept 6 (Hina) - The promotion of Croatia as an economic and not only political partner was the purpose of our tour to Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said in Zagreb on Thursday upon
his return from the visit. "Visits to Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand were the continuation of the same approach we had during our visit to South America in June, and the goal of such visits is to promote Croatia not only as a political partner but also as an economic one. The aim of such an approach is to present Croatia as an entry to Central and East Europe," Minister Picula said at a news briefing. Speaking of the political aspect of his latest tour, Picula asserted that an important step forward was made in Australia with an agreement on signing a social insurance treaty, which would improve the position of Croats living in that country. Speaking of his meeti
ZAGREB, Sept 6 (Hina) - The promotion of Croatia as an economic and
not only political partner was the purpose of our tour to Malaysia,
Australia and New Zealand, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula
said in Zagreb on Thursday upon his return from the visit.
"Visits to Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand were the
continuation of the same approach we had during our visit to South
America in June, and the goal of such visits is to promote Croatia
not only as a political partner but also as an economic one. The aim
of such an approach is to present Croatia as an entry to Central and
East Europe," Minister Picula said at a news briefing.
Speaking of the political aspect of his latest tour, Picula
asserted that an important step forward was made in Australia with
an agreement on signing a social insurance treaty, which would
improve the position of Croats living in that country.
Speaking of his meetings with Australian Croats, Picula dismissed
allegations that Croatian emigrants had taken a negative approach
to the incumbent Croatian government a priori.
Our emigrants would like to see a prosperous Croatia, and there are
different political tactics on how to achieve it, Picula said
adding this referred most to sensitive issues such as the
cooperation between Zagreb and international factors, such as the
UN war crimes tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) or neighbours.
Picula said that the previous visit of Ivo Sanader, the leader of
the strongest Croatian opposition party (HDZ), to Australia had
also helped Australian Croats to gain a complete insight in the
current state of affairs in Croatia.
The head of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK), Nadan
Vidosevic, who accompanied Picula on the latest tour, told
reporters Croatia wanted to win an important place on the markets of
Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia. Many Australian companies
view Croatia as an interesting partner, Vidosevic said.
During Thursday's news briefing, Picula commenting on relations
with neighbours.
Speaking of a border agreement with Slovenia, the Croatian foreign
minister positively assessed the fact that the authorities and
public of both countries were addressing concrete proposals.
Asked about the settlement of border issues with Yugoslavia on the
Danube River and the peninsula of Prevlaka, Picula expressed hope
that Belgrade would give its contribution to the conclusion of the
current mandate of the UN mission at Prevlaka (UNMOP) and accept the
fact that Prevlaka is indisputably a part of Croatia's territory.
The minister believes that agreement will also be reached on the
demarcation of the border-line on the River Danube.
He announced that he would meet his Yugoslav counterpart Goran
Svilanovic in New York soon.
Commenting on some initiatives about regional integration
processes in the south-east of Europe, such as an Italian
initiative about a Balkan economic community, Picula said that
during meetings with foreign diplomats, Croatia expressed its firm
stand that the gravitational pull of south eastern European
countries could only be Brussels.
(hina) sb ms