Minister Gordan Jandroković met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, who was on official visit to Croatia

The collocutors expressed satisfaction with the bilateral relations between Croatia and Turkey, describing them as very good, friendly and devoid of outstanding issues

The collocutors expressed satisfaction with the bilateral relations between Croatia and Turkey, describing them as very good, friendly and devoid of outstanding issues, with a regular exchange of information and high-official consultations. The ministers also expressed support for their respective countries’ EU membership and reviewed the present course of their accession negotiations.

Talking about the economic cooperation, the collocutors pointed out its continuous growth, as well as the positive results of the Joint Croatia-Turkey Committee on Economic Cooperation, within which a Joint Working Group for Industry is to be founded. Minister Jandroković said Croatia is especially interested in the realization of energy projects and placing its consumer products on the Turkish market, and through Turkey onto the markets of central Asia and Caucasus. In that regard, the welcomed the growing interest among Turkish businessmen in investing in Croatia, pointing out the potential of the ports of Rijeka and Zadar as transit centers for launching Turkish products onto the European markets.

The collocutors emphasized the two countries’ increasingly strong military and defense cooperation, both bilateral and within NATO. Minister Jandroković thanked for the support Turkey had been lending Croatia during its NATO accession, saying he believes the recent decision to invite Montenegro into the Membership Action Plan is excellent news for the region of South Eastern Europe, and expressing hope that Bosnia and Herzegovina would soon be invited as well. The ministers also exchanged opinions about the KFOR and ISAF missions.

The collocutors also discussed the current political situation in South Eastern Europe, agreeing that the region’s remaining countries’ joining the Euro-Atlantic integration is the best guarantee of its prosperity, peace and stability. The collocutors took a special look at the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, expressing their support for a speedy agreement about the constitutional changes, pointing out that they should be conducive to the equality of the three constitutive nations, the setting up of functioning institutions and the country’s Euro-Atlantic perspective. Minister Jandroković added that Croatia supports the international community’s efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially those of the High Commissioner. Both sides agreed that the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the cornerstone of the stability of the entire region.

The ministers also talked about the cooperation within multilateral bodies, namely the UN Alliance of Civilizations, and the current global foreign policy topics.

Minister Jandroković extended condolences to Minister Davutoğlu over the death of 19 Turkish miners in a coal mine near Bursa yesterday.

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