RACAN AND PICULA OFFICIALLY INVITED TO BRUSSELS AND LISBON

ZAGREB, Feb 8 (Hina) - Portuguese Ambassador to Croatia Ana Barata on Tuesday presented Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula with the letter of Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres in which the Portuguese Prime Minister invited Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan and Minister Picula to visit Lisbon on February 12, the Croatian Foreign Ministry reported. Barata also presented Picula with a letter of Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Game in which, as the chairman of the European Union's Council of Ministers, he invited Racan and Picula to meet foreign ministers of 15 European Union member countries. Picula thanked the Ambassador and pointed to the significance of her visit for Croatia's new international identity. The Croatian Government believes that the upcoming talks in Brussels and Lisbon are of an extreme importance. The Government believes it is a good opportunity for Croatia to present itself to the European Union and each member-country as a credible partner, read the statement. Both parties concluded that the visit marked a new phase in Croatia's joining the European Union. Picula stressed that Croatia and Portugal, as two smaller European countries, have many things in common, and expressed hope for strengthening of bilateral relations. 8hina) it