JERUSALEM, Nov 1 (Hina) - Ending his trip to Israel on Thursday, Croatian President Stipe Mesic said the visit was one of the more successful as Croatia had been given every assurance about the further development of economic and
other cooperation with Israel. The initial results of the visit are good, Mesic told reporters, adding the problems which had burdened Croatian-Israeli relations in the past decade no longer existed. Zagreb is opening to the world, Europe, and the Middle East, he said. Mesic has invited Israeli counterpart Moshe Katsav to visit Croatia, while Israel has extended the invitation to Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan. The Croatian head of state was to meet Israel's PM Ariel Sharon on Wednesday, but the meeting was cancelled due to an important parliamentary voting on the Israeli budget. "I had a telephone conversation with Sharon about Croatian-Israeli cooperation yesterday," said M
JERUSALEM, Nov 1 (Hina) - Ending his trip to Israel on Thursday,
Croatian President Stipe Mesic said the visit was one of the more
successful as Croatia had been given every assurance about the
further development of economic and other cooperation with
Israel.
The initial results of the visit are good, Mesic told reporters,
adding the problems which had burdened Croatian-Israeli relations
in the past decade no longer existed. Zagreb is opening to the
world, Europe, and the Middle East, he said.
Mesic has invited Israeli counterpart Moshe Katsav to visit
Croatia, while Israel has extended the invitation to Croatian Prime
Minister Ivica Racan.
The Croatian head of state was to meet Israel's PM Ariel Sharon on
Wednesday, but the meeting was cancelled due to an important
parliamentary voting on the Israeli budget.
"I had a telephone conversation with Sharon about Croatian-Israeli
cooperation yesterday," said Mesic, adding the talks addressed,
among else, the situation in the Middle East and Southeast Europe.
"I've come here primarily to open cooperation between Israel and
Croatia, and my visit proves there are no more obstacles," he
added.
Earlier today, President Mesic visited a dairy plant, owned by the
Elite-Strauss group, in Nahari. Elite is present on the Croatian
coffee market, in cooperation with Croatia's food industry
Podravka, since 1999. The group is considering expanding its
products in Croatia, according to director Ofra Strauss.
Mesic said the Podravka-Elite cooperation was a good example of
cooperation between Croatian and Israeli companies.
On his trip, Mesic was accompanied by a group of Croatian
businessmen.
Deputy Economy Minister Maja Brinar said Croatia expected an
improvement in trade with Israel, which accounts for a mere $12
million in annual turnover. An initiative was launched to start
negotiations on a free trade agreement, while talks also tackled
direct investments in telecommunications and high technology, and
indirect ones in the power industry and tourism.
Mesic and the delegation are returning to Croatia in the evening.
(hina) ha