"The Hungarian minority in Croatia and the Croatian minority in Hungary are big and strong ties between our countries," Josipovic said after meeting with Ader. They were the sponsors of the 12th annual Croat Days in Hungary.
The exemplary relationship between Croatia and Hungary has lasted for centuries, said Ader, adding that there was no example, either in Europe or the rest of the world, of two neighbouring countries living without war or conflict for so long. This is also a binding tradition, he said.
Both presidents recalled that Croatia would join the European Union next July which, Josipovic said, would "enable new and important forms of cooperation."
"We are grateful to Hungary for the continuous support on our road to the EU," he said, while Ader said he was pleased that Croatia's EU accession negotiations were completed during Hungary's chairmanship over the EU. He congratulated Josipovic on the fact that Croatia was close to the finish line.
Hungary was the first to ratify a protocol on NATO enlargement to Croatia and among the first to ratify Croatia's EU accession treaty.
Ader offered Croatia cooperation in farm subsidies and cohesion funds.
Discussing economic cooperation, the two presidents concluded that excellent bilateral relations offered many possibilities. Ader recalled a project to build a Budapest-Rijeka railroad and a two-way gas pipeline.
Josipovic said the two countries should take care of the common natural assets, notably the Mura-Drava-Danube basin. He confirmed Croatia's interest in gas distribution, saying it was in both countries' interest.
Trade in the first nine months of 2012 was EUR 517.85 million, a growth of 1.7 per cent. Hungary is the fourth largest investor in Croatia.
Speaking to the press, the two presidents commented on recent events which received a lot of media coverage, alluding to the INA-MOL case and a Hungarian court's conviction of former Croatian First Deputy Prime Minister Radimir Cacic.
Court decisions should be respected. Croatia and Hungary are on the same page in that regard, verdicts cannot jeopardise their excellent political relations, Josipovic said, with Ader adding that court decisions should be respected and that they should in no way burden the excellent Hungarian-Croatian relations.
Ader wished for a Hungarian Cultural Centre to be opened in Zagreb and a Croatian Cultural Centre in Budapest. Creating an institutional framework is important to know our tradition and preserve the values we have accumulated over the centuries, he said.
Josipovic invited Ader to officially visit Croatia, which is expected on February 12-13. They visited an exhibition on Croatian-Hungarian relations and opened Croat Days.
Josipovic said the fact that Ader accepted for the event to be held under his auspices showed the Croatian minority's renown in Hungary.