"The meeting with the Macedonian prime minister was held in a friendly atmosphere. Apart from cooperation in Euro-Atlantic integration and Croatia's unquestionable support for Macedonia's drawing closer to the European Union, we also talked about intensifying economic relations and increasing trade between the two countries, which now amounts to about EUR 200 million," Sprem told Hina.
He said they underlined the need to set up a joint body to facilitate trade and a wish to increase direct investments on both sides.
In the talks with Ivanov, Sprem voiced hope that Macedonia and Greece would solve the dispute over Macedonia's name.
Speaking of the political situation in Macedonia, Ivanov said that drawing closer to the EU would probably solve many domestic problems.
A Croatian delegation accompanying Sprem also met with the chairman of the Macedonian parliament's group for cooperation with the Croatian parliament, Fijat Canoski. Talks on inter-parliamentary cooperation will continue in Ohrid on Thursday with Fijat and the Macedonian parliament's Deputy Speaker, Svetlana Jakimovska.
Earlier today, Sprem met with Macedonian Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski, saying afterwards that Croatia strongly supported Macedonia to join the EU and NATO as soon as possible, and that it had a special responsibility to strengthen European values throughout the region.