JERUSALEM, July 31 (Hina) - Relations between Croatia and Israel are stable and they are expected to improve in all areas by the end of this year, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said in Jerusalem on Monday. "I believe our
relations will be stable on the basis of what we have achieved over the past several months," Picula told Croatian reporters. A Croatian delegation, headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic, arrived in Jerusalem for a four-day official visit on Sunday. Granic will on Tuesday meet Israel's Deputy Prime Minister David Levy and sign with him agreements on the protection and stimulation of investments and trade and economic cooperation. Picula said he expected cooperation with Israel to be "much more diverse and stronger" by the end of this year. He assessed that Israel was in many aspects an "ally" to Croatia. The Croatian delegation, which also includes Economy Minister Goranko
JERUSALEM, July 31 (Hina) - Relations between Croatia and Israel
are stable and they are expected to improve in all areas by the end
of this year, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said in
Jerusalem on Monday.
"I believe our relations will be stable on the basis of what we have
achieved over the past several months," Picula told Croatian
reporters.
A Croatian delegation, headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Goran
Granic, arrived in Jerusalem for a four-day official visit on
Sunday. Granic will on Tuesday meet Israel's Deputy Prime Minister
David Levy and sign with him agreements on the protection and
stimulation of investments and trade and economic cooperation.
Picula said he expected cooperation with Israel to be "much more
diverse and stronger" by the end of this year.
He assessed that Israel was in many aspects an "ally" to Croatia.
The Croatian delegation, which also includes Economy Minister
Goranko Fizulic, Defence Minister Jozo Rados and Tourism Minister
Pave Zupan Ruskovic, is visiting Israel at a time when the Israeli
government is facing a crisis due to different approaches to
negotiations with the Palestinians in Camp David.
It is expected that Deputy Prime Minister David Levy could on
Wednesday hand his resignation to Prime Minister Ehud Barak,
because he believes Barak is making too big concessions in
negotiations with the Palestinians.
"We did not want to postpone our visit to Israel because we want to
accelerate our relations, especially now that changes have taken
place in Croatia," Picula said.
Speaking about Israel's internal and foreign policies, Picula
estimated that both Israel and Croatia were at the cross-roads.
"By choosing the policy of Prime Minister Barak and his government
Israel is trying to consolidate and reinforce peace on its external
borders," Picula said, adding this had to reflect on inter-party
relations in the country.
"We are here also to convey our experience, which is modest, but
very important... the experience that it is possible to implement
an active foreign policy but only on the basis of deeper internal
political changes," Picula said. He did not expect that possible
changes in the Israeli government and policy would cause changes in
the relations between the two countries.
"I am certain that the Israeli people, the citizens of Israel, will
in their future political assessments help the consolidation of
Israel in this part of the world, which will certainly positively
affect... the political philosophy of reconciliation," Picula
said.
(hina) rml