HUNGARIAN PRESIDENT DEFENDS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH ZAGREB

ZAGREB, Nov 16 (Hina) - Budapest has a strategic partnership with Zagreb because of the Hungarian minority in Croatia, its wish for ensuring the transport of Hungarian goods via the port of Rijeka, and for it to have a prosperous partner, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in an interview for Hungary's television Duna Sunday when asked why relations with Croatia were important for the Hungarian Government, the BBC said. The life of the Hungarian minority in Croatia depends on Croatia's internal situation, Orban said, adding Hungary had with the Croatian side signed all agreements on the protection of minorities, while the rest issues related to every-day life, such as the reconstruction of war-damaged villages. Croatia is Hungary's strategic partner. Hungary's economic growth mostly depends on the strengthening of exports, Orban said, stressing that a cheap water-way was necessary for such a strategy, which is possible to achieve with Hungary's help in the reconstruction of the Rijeka port. The third reason is Budapest's interest for having as many prosperous, peaceful and stable countries in its southern neighbourhood. Croatia is undoubtedly one of such countries, Orban said. He held Croatia's economy was good, despite the fact that 30 per cent of the Government budget was still being set aside to remove the consequences of war, such as mine-clearance and reconstruction. Croatia is a democratic country, Orban stressed, adding this would be proven by the upcoming parliamentary elections. Hungary, thus, regularly reminds both the European Union and NATO that the stabilisation of the region of the south-east of Europe and permanent peace were possible only by including countries with adequate preconditions into international circles. Croatia is a good partner, Orban said, recalling that the Hungarian Government had frequently been subject to criticism by western factors for its strategic partnership towards Zagreb. (hina) lml jn