Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Gordan Jandrokovic met 2 February 2011 in Washington as part of his working visit to the United States with Croatian-descended Senator Mark Begich.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Gordan Jandrokovic met 2 February 2011 in Washington as part of his working visit to the United States with Croatian-descended Senator Mark Begich.
Minister Jandrokovic informed him about the actualities of Croatia's EU accession, saying he was convinced the negotiations would be closed by mid-2011 and the Accession Treaty signed soon afterwards. All of that is the result of the reforms the Croatian Government is conducting, said the minister, especially in regard to judiciary, public administration and fighting corruption.
He also presented the Croatian Government's economic recovery measures, expressing hope for a large interest among American investors in investing in Croatia.
He also expressed conviction that the signing of the Open Skies Agreement between the US and the Republic of Croatia planned for the following day would increase the number of American tourists, as well as strengthen the ties between the large Croatian community in the EU and Croatia.
The collocutors described as excellent the cooperation in numerous defence projects, especially the cooperation within ISAF.
They also discussed the visa exemption program, with Minister Jandrokovic pointing out that by mid-February Croatia would have met all of the criteria for joining the program, which will require reducing the number of rejected visa applications below 3%.
Senator Begich expressed full support for Croatia's joining the US visa exemption program.
Discussing the state of affairs in South Eastern Europe and the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the collocutors agreed that the Euro-Atlantic perspective if the best guarantee of stability.
Conclusively, Minister Jandrokovic invited Senator Begich to this year's Croatia Summit, slated for July in Dubrovnik.
Mario Dragun
Spokesman
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