ZAGREB, June 17 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic late Saturday night returned to Zagreb from a two-day official visit to Albania. In Tirana, Mesic held talks with Albania's top officials on the bilateral cooperation, the
situation in the region and the standing of the two countries in relation to European integration processes.
ZAGREB, June 17 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic late
Saturday night returned to Zagreb from a two-day official visit to
Albania.
In Tirana, Mesic held talks with Albania's top officials on the
bilateral cooperation, the situation in the region and the standing
of the two countries in relation to European integration
processes.#L#
"At our talks we determined points on which we agree, directions in
which our two countries are moving and goals we have," Mesic told a
news conference upon his arrival in Zagreb.
During his visit to Tirana, Croatian President was accompanied by a
delegation consisting of Public Works, Reconstruction and
Construction Minister Radomir Cacic, Deputy Foreign Minister Vesna
Cvjetkovic Kurelec and a Sabor member, Mirjana Vac-Feric.
According to Mesic, Albanian President Rexep Meidani and he
particularly discussed the situation in the region and in Serbia.
"Albania has the same strategic aims as Croatia: to be admitted to
the European Union and NATO. There is, however, a disturbing factor
between us, and it is Serbia with Slobodan Milosevic at its helm.
Due to this situation, Albania and all neighbours to Yugoslavia
(Serbia/Montenegro) have great problems," Mesic told reporters.
He and his Albanian host considered French President Jacques
Chirac's initiative on convening a summit meeting of the EU and
countries in the area of former Yugoslavia.
We, however, concluded that it would be not so good to gather only
countries from the area of former Yugoslavia with European
assistance or chairmanship at such a summit, but all countries
bordering with ex-Yugoslavia should be invited to such event, Mesic
said.
Thus we can draw countries that have passed several steps towards
the European integration processes, EU member-states, and those
that are preparing to make first steps in that direction. This can
help the integration process, he maintained.
Asked about concrete results of his visit to Tirana, Mesic
responded that it was a discussion on building a motorway from the
Ionian Sea to the Italian border.
Minister Radomir Cacic considered this topic with Albanian
President, Premier and ministers of transport and communications
and public works.
Croatian construction companies are invited to work in Albania.
Firms constructing transmission lines have already been engaged in
works in Albania and I hope our firms for road constructions will
soon be present in that country, Minister Cacic said.
Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister Vesna Cvjetkovic Kurelec and
Albanian officials considered the liberalisation of the visa
regime, strengthening of Croatian-Albanian ties within projects of
the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and the future
Adriatic-Ionian highway.
MP Mirjana Vac Feric told reporter that the parliamentary
cooperation between Albania and Croatia was proceeding at two
levels: through direct contacts between national parliaments and
contacts of the two countries' parliamentary delegations to the
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly.
(hina) ms