"We want the process of European integration to continue. Last year Moldova made the first step in that direction," Sanader told reporters, adding that the two countries were considering cooperation in two associations.
"We have proposed that Moldova be admitted to CEFTA, and Moldova itself requested this some time ago, and that it be given the status of an observer in the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP), whose presidency Croatia takes over in early May," Sanader said.
"CEFTA is an exclusively economic organisation, it is a free trade zone and there is a great interest in and support for CEFTA," Sanader said. The SEECP includes not only the economic aspect, but also security and fight against organised crime, the PM said, adding that the SEECP was very important for stability in Southeast Europe.
Developments in the neighbourhood are important to Croatia, including the status of Kosovo, the Montenegrin referendum on independence and constitutional changes in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sanader said.
Croatia will accept any decision by Montenegrin citizens at the referendum on independence and respect the country's democratic process, he added.
Commenting on the issue of Kosovo, Sanader said that it could not be solved without Belgrade. "Efforts should be made to arrive at a solution peacefully and prevent conflicts from reoccurring, as well as to see that all Serbs are given their guaranteed rights. The issue is difficult but it cannot be resolved without Belgrade," Sanader said.
A group of Croatian business people accompanying Sanader on his visit to Moldova today took part in a forum on the promotion of economic relations between the two countries. Bilateral trade now amounts to a modest eight million US dollars, but estimates show that the cooperation potential is much bigger, particularly in the areas of tourism, information technology and commerce.
The meeting with President Voronin marked the end of Sanader's two-day official visit to Moldova. Earlier in the day, he met Parliament Speaker Mariano Lupu.