Minister Grabar-Kitarović held press conference

Minister Grabar-Kitarović said that the 2nd Crans Montana Forum is one of the most important government-sponsored events in 2006. The Forum will gather more than 400 high state officials, diplomats, representatives of international organisations, private sector, and experts. The distinguished participants of the Forum include Slovenian President Janez Drnovšek, Austrian Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Chairman of the BH Council of Ministers Adnan Terzić, Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Đukanović, Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister Radmila Šekerinska, Romanian Deputy Prime Minister Gheorghe Pogea, Slovakian Vice Prime Minister Pal Csaky, Maltese Foreign Minister Michael Frendo, Dutch European Affairs Minister Atzo Nicolaï, Stability Pact’s Special Coordinator Erhard Busek, et al.

Also taking part in the Forum will be Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and numerous other Croatian high officials – Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Justice Minister Ana Lovrin, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Petar Čobanković, Minister of Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development Božidar Kalmeta, Finance Minister Ivan Šuker, Minister of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship Branko Vukelić, State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Ante Žigman, Chairman of the Parliamentary Board for European Integration Neven Mimica, Vice-Governor of the Croatian National Bank and member of the negotiating team Boris Vujčić, et al.

The aim of the Forum is to present the growing potential of the Croatian economy to the political and business elite of world and Europe, and to discuss the political and economic issues of common interest, such as the future of the European Union, development of the financial, transportation, energy and other sectors in South East Europe, stimulating direct foreign investment, the development of tourism, the role of justice in the creation of a favourable entrepreneurial climate, etc. (Forum’s program is enclosed). This is especially important in view of Croatia’s preparations for joining the EU and the significance of the European way for Croatia and al of the countries in the region.

The Forum on Bird Flu garnered special interest, whose goal is to present the Croatian model of controlling and preventing the spreading of this disease. The Forum on Bird Flu will be presided over by Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Petar Čobanković and foreign Member of the European Commission for Agriculture Franz Fischler, and will see the participation of agriculture ministers from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, Serbia, and Sudan, deputy agriculture ministers from Poland and Ukraine, and representatives from Greece, Germany, Slovakia, and Turkey. The Forum on Bird Flu will be available live at www.mvp.hr.

The Crans Montana Forum is a distinguished international economic-political forum that has for almost two decades been organising meetings to stimulate dialogue and create high level partnership between politics and economy, as well as between the economic subjects. For more information, visit the Crans Montana Forum webpage at www.cmf.ch, the MFAEI webpage at www.mvp.hr/cmf or contact the Spokesperson’s Office at 45 97 704, fax 45 69 973, email glasnogovornica@mvp.hr.