The relations between Israel and Croatia are increasingly better, including the relations between the two peoples and their governments, Rivlin told a news conference after his meeting with Bebic.
This improvement is also proved by frequent reciprocal visits by political officials, with Rivlin recalling that Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman recently visited Croatia and adding that Israeli President Shimon Peres had announced his visit to Croatia soon.
Rivlin said he was happy about the decision enabling Croatia to become a part of the united Europe, adding that with Croatia's EU membership, Israel would have a friend in that union.
He expressed hope that the relations between the Jewish and Croatian peoples would continue developing in the future.
Asked by the press about Croatia's position on the outcome of the negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians, Bebic said that Croatia supported the continuation of the peace negotiations and that he believed that the developments in North Africa and in the Middle East should not negatively affect those negotiations.
As for the final outcome, Croatia will follow the European Union's policy and adjust it to its national interests, Bebic said, adding that Israel has the right to exist as a state and that the Palestinians have the right to live in freedom and peace and within frameworks on which they reach agreement in the peace negotiations.
Rivlin said that the basic issue of the Middle East is a security issue, adding that there are no short-cuts and that Israel must directly discuss the relations both with the Palestinians and the Arab countries.
Rivlin will attend Croatia Summit in Dubrovnik as the Israeli Prime Minister's envoy.