ZAGREB, Jan 29(Hina) - Chilean President Ricardo Lagos Escobar, currently on a three-day official visit to Croatia, addressed the Croatian parliament on Thursday.
ZAGREB, Jan 29(Hina) - Chilean President Ricardo Lagos Escobar,
currently on a three-day official visit to Croatia, addressed the
Croatian parliament on Thursday.#L#
Escobar said that there was a large Croatian community in Chile that
had made an important contribution to the country's development after
the first wave of immigration in the second half of the 19th century.
He also spoke of the situation in the world, analysing globalisation
processes.
Before addressing members of parliament, the Chilean president met
Croatian Parliament President Vladimir Seks. The two officials
described relations between the two countries as very good, stressing
their continuity since even before Croatia was recognised as an
independent state.
Seks said that Croatia was very proud that its emigrants had made a
significant contribution to the development of Chilean society and
that it was interested in preserving the bonds between the Croatian
expatriate community in Chile and their mother country.
Seks also expressed hope that economic relations between the two
countries would continue getting stronger, citing the possibility of
using Croatian seaports and free trade zones as a form of
cooperation.
The address by the Chilean President was attended by Croatian
President Stjepan Mesic and a number of members of the diplomatic
corps.
(Hina) vm sb