ZAGREB, 25 April (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Thursday received credentials from His Excellency Francesco Olivieri, the newly-appointed Italian Ambassador to Croatia, a statement from the President's Office
said.
ZAGREB, 25 April (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on
Thursday received credentials from His Excellency Francesco
Olivieri, the newly-appointed Italian Ambassador to Croatia, a
statement from the President's Office said. #L#
Ambassador Olivieri said that it was an honour for him to take
over the office of Italian ambassador to Croatia, adding he was
aware of the relations between the two peoples in the past but also
of their relations today.
Croatia's admission to the Council of Europe was a huge step
forward and my activities would go in that direction, Olivieri
said.
President Tudjman said that Croatia had always belonged to
central Europe and that it had given a large contribution to Europe
as such.
Italy was among the first states to recognize Croatia and the
then President Cossiga was the first foreign statesman who visited
the independent Croatia, President Tudjman said.
After its liberation from Balkan chains, Croatia wanted to
become part of western Europe to which it had always belonged,
President Tudjman said.
He wished Ambassador Olivieri a pleasant stay in Croatia,
adding that Olivieri would have his personal and Croatian
Government's support in carrying out his duties.
Croatia was interested in developing overall relations with
Italy, President Tudjman said and invited Italian President Oscar
Luigi Scalfaro to visit Croatia.
Present at the talks at President Tudjman's side were his
Chief-Of-Staff Ivo Sanader, Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Simonovic
and aide to President Tudjman's foreign policy advisor, Dubravka
Plejic-Markovic.
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