Politically, Slovakia and Croatia have no outstanding issues and Zagreb enjoys our full support with regard to Euro-Atlantic integration. We consider Croatia to be one of the best, if not the best candidate for the EU and NATO, Fico told the press after the talks.
Sanader recalled that the two countries maintained intensive relations. Regular meetings at the highest level confirm excellent ties between the two countries and Euro-Atlantic integration is gradually giving way to economic topics, the two prime ministers said.
Not 100 days have passed since the last meeting and we will meet again in Dubrovnik in July at a NATO conference, Sanader said, thanking his Slovak counterpart for the firm and clear support.
Croatia expects an invitation to join NATO in one year exactly, he said, adding that with regard to the EU, Croatia's ambition was to complete accession negotiations by the end of 2008 and join the bloc in 2009.
Answering a question from the press about difficulties in connection with the European constitution and the problems Croatia could face, Sanader said the main thing was that Croatia finish its part of the job on time.
Sanader said he believed there was no doubt that Croatia would be the EU's 28th member, and added that the two years ahead were crucial for Croatia's international positioning.
Commenting on the outcome of presidential elections in France and possible consequences for Croatia, Sanader said the results were expected and that any candidate's victory would not change France's policy towards Croatia.
Fico confirmed Slovakia's interest in cooperating in the building and renting of an oil reservoir on the Croatian island of Krk, saying the two countries' economy ministers would discuss this more thoroughly.
Fico asked Sanader to tell Croatian companies to bid for the construction of road sections in Slovakia. The pace and quality of highway construction in Croatia were worthy of attention, he said.
Fico confirmed that Slovakia had taken note of the signing of a multilateral agreement on a pan-European oil pipeline, from Costanza in Romania to Trieste in Italy, and that supply from the Adria pipeline was a great opportunity for Slovakia.
Sanader said Croatia was interested in cooperation in energy as both Croatia and Slovakia wanted energy independence.
We will initiate cooperation for the storage of Slovakia's compulsory oil reserves in Croatia as well as re-examine how Slovakia can be included in the pan-European oil pipeline project, said Sanader.
He added that Croatian companies were interested in participating in Slovakia's auto-industry and that the Rade Koncar company was interested in a tender for the production of trams in Bratislava.
Answering a question from the press, Sanader said Croatia financed highway construction with public funds. We inherited a 6.3% GDP deficit and reduced it to 2.9%, but we continued to build highways at an even stronger pace, he said.
Sanader also said that Croatia had not opted for a flat tax rate due to the complexity of its tax system. Unlike Fico, he was against a dividend tax.
We are just developing the financial market and it still needs time to gain momentum, Sanader said, adding that unlike Croatia, Slovakia had 17 peaceful years of transition.
The two premiers also underlined the fact that an ever increasing number of Slovaks visited Croatia every year, with 230,000 arrivals in 2006. Slovak consulates will be opened in Rijeka and Split, it was announced.
Later today, Sanader is due to meet Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic and former PM and chief of the opposition centre-right Slovak Democratic and Christian Union, Mikulas Dzurinda.