Rasmussen began his official trip to Croatia yesterday by visiting the southern seaside resort of Dubrovnik. After today's talks with Mesic, he met Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and voiced hope the visit would contribute to a faster development of Croatian-Danish relations.
Rasmussen said Denmark deeply valued the development and progress Croatia had achieved as well as its efforts in the implementation of reforms and cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal.
Croatia is a role model for the whole region and the prospect of full membership is an important driving force for the other countries of the region, said the Danish PM, underlining that all countries must have the same standards and criteria.
President Mesic said he was pleased with the growth of Danish investment in Croatia as well as with the higher number of Danish tourists.
Speaking of Croatia's strategic goals, he said Zagreb aspired to full membership of Euro-Atlantic institutions but also cooperation with countries outside Europe. Mesic's forthcoming attendance of a summit of non-aligned countries in Cuba opens the possibility of such cooperation and of expanding the market for Croatia.
Mesic and Rasmussen also talked about the situation in the region, notably Kosovo. Mesic said the solution for Kosovo must be arrived at during Belgrade-Pristina negotiations, with the international community's assistance.
The two officials also discussed the threat of global terrorism and were agreed that it was generated by regional crises. Only by solving regional crises can the issue of global terror be solved, they said.