NEW YORK, Sept 24 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula met his counterparts from Norway and Australia in New York on Tuesday for talks on strengthening cooperation between Croatia and these countries.
NEW YORK, Sept 24 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula
met his counterparts from Norway and Australia in New York on
Tuesday for talks on strengthening cooperation between Croatia and
these countries. #L#
Picula told Croatian journalists that he had informed Norwegian
Foreign Minister Jan Petersen about the situation in southeastern
Europe and Croatia's efforts to join NATO, particularly about
reforms in the Croatian armed forces.
Picula thanked Petersen for the ballast waters programme which was
initiated in May when Petersen visited Zagreb.
During talks with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer,
the two ministers agreed that progress had made after Croatia and
Australia signed a social welfare agreement in May, which would be
of help to the Croatian community in Australia. Picula said that the
two countries would also start talks on health care.
Croatia and Australia agreed to support each other in their efforts
to become non-permanent members of the Security Council. Australia
would like to achieve this goal in the 2006/2007 term and Croatia in
2008/2009, Picula said.
(hina) vm