The regime is also an obstacle to the arrival of Ukrainian tourists in Croatia, Mesic told the press after the meeting, saying he had recently written to Croatian Foreign Minister Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic to urgently take measures to liberalise and simplify the visa regime in the interest of the development of Croatia's relations with other countries, not only Ukraine.
Yushchenko said consultations on this matter would begin in several weeks on the level of foreign ministries and that the visa regime would be liberalised.
The two presidents also discussed the advancement of bilateral relations through stronger economic cooperation, the situation in Europe, the world and the region, and the Druzba Adria oil pipeline project.
Yushchenko suggested that Croatian construction companies should participate in the building of the infrastructure for the world soccer championships Ukraine will host in 2012.
Speaking of Druzba Adria, Mesic said he and his guest talked about energy routes in Europe, notably those regarding Ukraine and Croatia, and that Druzba Adria was one of them.
Only when it ensures energy sources does a country have the prospect of economic development, and Croatia and Ukraine want to ensure energy sources for themselves, said Mesic.
The two presidents said Croatia-Ukraine relations were very good, but agreed their governments should do much more to exploit the possibilities of economic cooperation.
Our relations have improved, notably in the last two years, through active political dialogue, and I am certain that all key issues ahead of us are being resolved thanks to that, said Yushchenko.
The two presidents also spoke about the dangers of global terrorism, agreeing that it was necessary to avoid anything that might undermine security in Europe and the region. In this context, they mentioned the currently unstable political situation in Ukraine.
Instability in Ukraine would not be damaging only to that country, but to Central Europe as well, even to Europe as a whole, said Mesic.
Yushchenko said a democratic solution to the crisis in his country was in sight and that all political parties in the parliament were agreed that early elections should be called for September 30. In the contrary, there is an agreement that his party and the party of former PM Julia Timoshenko should walk out of the parliament, which means that elections should be called within 60 days, he added.
Mesic and Yushchenko also exchanged high state decorations for outstanding contributions to the development of friendship, cooperation and bilateral relations.
Three Croatia-Ukraine agreements were signed at Mesic's office, on cooperation in education, technology and science, on customs cooperation, and on cooperation between Matica Hrvatska, Croatia's largest publisher, and the Taras Shevchenko scientific society.