ZAGREB, June 5 (Hina) - Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Lydia Polfer arrived in Croatia to learn about the situation here, and to convey her government's support to Croatian government efforts to fortify democracy, Polfer and Croatian
counterpart Tonino Picula told a news conference in Zagreb on Monday. Polfer's day-long stay is the first official visit by a member of Luxembourg's government to Croatia, which Foreign Minister Picula assessed as the "elimination of another blank area" on the map of Europe from which Croatia's foreign affairs had been absent in recent years. Picula said he "briefed (Polfer) on everything Croatia did over the last four months to encourage the European Union to be more present in Croatia in both the political and economic sense, namely to open the negotiating process with RH (Croatia) on association." The Croatian minister added he also took the opportunity to learn
ZAGREB, June 5 (Hina) - Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Lydia Polfer
arrived in Croatia to learn about the situation here, and to convey
her government's support to Croatian government efforts to fortify
democracy, Polfer and Croatian counterpart Tonino Picula told a
news conference in Zagreb on Monday.
Polfer's day-long stay is the first official visit by a member of
Luxembourg's government to Croatia, which Foreign Minister Picula
assessed as the "elimination of another blank area" on the map of
Europe from which Croatia's foreign affairs had been absent in
recent years.
Picula said he "briefed (Polfer) on everything Croatia did over the
last four months to encourage the European Union to be more present
in Croatia in both the political and economic sense, namely to open
the negotiating process with RH (Croatia) on association."
The Croatian minister added he also took the opportunity to learn
about how Luxembourg viewed the situation in this part of Europe.
"We encountered understanding and interest on (Polfer's part), who
was most interested in what Luxembourg can concretely do as regards
strengthening its cooperation with Croatia," said Picula.
There is enough space in Croatia to include capital from Luxembourg
in the development of the banking sector and tourism, as well as of
the metal, wood-processing and textile industry, he added.
Picula said Croatia made an offer to Luxembourg to take part in a
project for the return of 16,500 refugees to Croatia, given
Luxembourg's special funds aimed at inciting democracy in this
region.
Polfer confirmed she arrived to support on her government's behalf
the Croatian government on its path to fortify the country's
democracy.
She said Luxembourg would like to assure Croatia's government that
it would try to be a partner in political and economic efforts as
much as it could.
(hina) ha mm