inister Grabar-Kitarović met with Iceland’s Foreign Minister David Oddsson

Minister Grabar-Kitarović described the bilateral relations between the two countries as good, but with a series of areas in which co-operation could be deepened still, pointing out the need for a more frequent visits by state officials. Croatia has not forgotten that is was Iceland who first officially recognised Croatia, in a time when Minister Oddsson was the prime minister, said Minister Grabar-Kitarović, and invited him to visit Croatia soon.

Later on, Minister Grabar-Kitarović informed Minister Oddsson briefly about the current situation concerning the start of the pre-accession negotiations between Croatia and the EU, as well as Croatia’s efforts to that end. Full EU membership would send a positive signal to the entire SEE region, said Minister Grabar-Kitarović. Croatia is working full time to meet all of the criteria for NATO membership and hopes for an invitation to the 2006 summit.