Minister Gordan Jandroković met with Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon

"Source: www.international.gc.ca"

Minister Jandroković expressed satisfaction with his first official visit to Canada, the cordial meeting with the large Croatian community in Canada and the pending meetings with high Canadian officials. He described his visit to Canada, a continuation of the series of high-official visits during the last three years, as yet another indication of the two countries’ very good and friendly relations, characterized by mutual respect and understanding. He singled out the recent and exceptionally successful visit to Croatia by Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean.

The two ministers pointed out as an important element in the enhancement of the bilateral relations this year’s decision by the Canadian authorities to cancel the visa regime for Croatian citizens.

Talking about the possibilities of further improving the economic cooperation, the collocutors expressed satisfaction with the continuous trade growth, which only in the past three years has tripled. They also expressed satisfaction with the fact that Croatia has become Canada’s number one trade partner in South Eastern Europe. In light of the encouraging economic indicators, the ministers reviewed the possibilities of further intensifying the economic cooperation in all the sectors of mutual interest.

Minister Jandroković especially applauded the signing-ready Letter of Intent on the Signing of the Youth Exchange Agreement, which will enable the Croatian and Canadian citizens under 35 to acquire education and work experience in Canada and Croatia respectively.

Exchanging the opinions on the two countries’ military and defence cooperation, the ministers emphasized the successful and productive cooperation within NATO and the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. Minister Jandroković said that Croatia’s membership sends a positive message to the other countries of South Eastern Europe, pointing out that the Euro-Atlantic perspective is the only guarantee of stability and security in the region.

Minister Jandroković also informed his counterpart about the current state of Croatia’s EU accession negotiations. The two also reviewed the cooperation within multilateral bodies and discussed the political and security situation in Europe’s southeast.