BUDAPEST, Oct 19 (Hina) - Croatia and Hungary have almost ideal political relations which can set as an example of bilateral cooperation. Croatia must find a solution for improving economic relations, Croatian President Stipe Mesic
said in Budapest Thursday night, at the end of a two-day official visit to Hungary. "If any two countries are cooperating exceptionally, they are Croatia and Hungary because we do not have one outstanding political issue," Mesic told reporters. A problem, however, is insufficient economic cooperation between the two countries, Mesic said. "We must strategically decide what we want and if the development of production and promotion of exports is what we want, then we must place our monetary policy in the service of development," Mesic said. This is exactly what Hungary has done and is thus several steps ahead of Croatia, he asserted, adding the problem would be resolved through
BUDAPEST, Oct 19 (Hina) - Croatia and Hungary have almost ideal
political relations which can set as an example of bilateral
cooperation. Croatia must find a solution for improving economic
relations, Croatian President Stipe Mesic said in Budapest
Thursday night, at the end of a two-day official visit to Hungary.
"If any two countries are cooperating exceptionally, they are
Croatia and Hungary because we do not have one outstanding
political issue," Mesic told reporters.
A problem, however, is insufficient economic cooperation between
the two countries, Mesic said.
"We must strategically decide what we want and if the development of
production and promotion of exports is what we want, then we must
place our monetary policy in the service of development," Mesic
said.
This is exactly what Hungary has done and is thus several steps
ahead of Croatia, he asserted, adding the problem would be resolved
through a new development strategy.
In all other issues, Mesic achieved complete agreement during talks
with Hungary's senior officials, especially in the development of
infrastructure, primarily highways.
Talks mentioned a highway from Budapest via Zagreb to the central
Adriatic port of Rijeka, and a highway between Budapest and Ploce,
and the necessity for the reconstruction of the railways.
Mesic said they had also tackled issues of the Rijeka port, oil and
gas pipelines and other projects of interest to both countries. He
expressed conviction the cooperation between Croatia and Hungary
would remain to be exceptionally good in the future.
Mesic on Thursday afternoon held a lecture "Croatia's foreign
policy in the light of recent events in Southeast Europe" at the
Etvos Lorand university.
In the lecture he recalled the circumstances of the disintegration
of the former Yugoslavia and the great steps which Croatia was
taking on its path to European associations after a year of
lagging.
Croatia will now completely differently act in the region and
promote the policy of European association which will "make
survival and action possible for the Croat corps in its entirety".
Mesic on Thursday also visited the Danube Commission.
The Commission is the oldest European interstate organisation
established in 1856. Croatia became its member last year. The
Commission comprises 11 countries whose ambassadors are seated in
Budapest.
"Croatia gives great significance to the Danube, not only because
of its importance as a waterway, but also because of the fact that it
connects countries. The Danube Commission is especially important
in moments of opening of the Danube, because without a waterway,
Croatia can do nothing regarding Vukovar and its Danubian region,"
Mesic said.
The Croatian delegation is returning to Zagreb Thursday night.
(hina) lml