Croatian President Stjepan Mesic began a two-day visit to Kazakhstan on Thursday by meeting his host and Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev. (HINA)
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic began a two-day visit to Kazakhstan on Thursday by meeting his host and Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev.
In a statement to the press afterwards, Nazarbayev said that Kazakhstan, with its large reserves of oil and gas, was interested in diversifying supply routes and ready to export to Croatia.
"Aside from the Russian route, we are also interested in the Constanza-Pancevo-Trieste route as well as in Družba Adria (oil pipeline) given Croatia's extremely favourable geostrategic position," he said, adding that Kazakh companies were interested in privatising refineries and oil and gas systems.
President Mesic said better economic relations called for expanding the legal framework. "Croatia is negotiating full EU membership, but our interests are not limited to Europe".
President Mesic stated that Kazakhstan's economic progress was impressive and welcomed any possibility of Croatian companies participating in its development.
President Mesic also informed his Kazakh counterpart of the situation in Southeast Europe and the recent energy summit in Zagreb, which Russian President Vladimir Putin also attended.
President Nazarbayev said today's talks also addressed bilateral relations, with the conclusion that they were good although it was necessary to step up trade. He underlined that Kazakhstan would offer Croatian companies deals in the construction of a 390 km highway connecting its north and south.
Nazarbayev went on to say that it was necessary to step up the establishment of an intergovernmental commission on tourism so that Kazakhstan could use Croatia's vast experience, and announced the opening of a consulate to facilitate communication.
"Since my visit to Croatia in 2006, our trade has doubled, but it is necessary to sign agreements on double taxation avoidance, mutual investments and cooperation in tourism."
Two presidents also talked about international stability, energy, and terror prevention. This was Mesic's third visit to Kazakhstan. The first took place in 2002 and the second last year for Nazarbayev's inauguration.
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