Minister Grabar-Kitarović met during working visit to Australia with MFA Alexander Downer and Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs Amanda Vanstone

In her meeting with Minister Downer, Minister Grabar-Kitarović described the bilateral relations between Croatia and Australia as good and with no outstanding issues, expressing her wish for a further stimulation of the bilateral co-operation, especially in economy. She pointed out the importance of the Croatian ports Rijeka and Ploče, which can serve as the entry points to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and the possibility of using the customs free zones in the Adriatic ports.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović invited Minister Downer to pay an official visit to Croatia.

In her meeting with Minister Vanstone, Minister Grabar-Kitarović pointed out, taking into account Croatia’s international position and the achieved level of the bilateral co-operation with Australia, the interest on the Croatian part to reconsider the current practice in issuing visas for Australia to the Croatian citizens. Minister Vanstone promised to review the issue.

During her stay in Canberra, Minister Grabar-Kitarović held a lecture at the Australian National University entitled “Croatia on the Road towards the EU”.

In her lecture, Minister Grabar-Kitarović reviewed the EU enlargement process and Croatia’s acceding to the EU, and pointed out the importance of stability in South Eastern Europe and the reform processes in the candidate countries, emphasizing the Croatian Government’s determination to maximise its efforts in conducting the reforms with the aim of improving the quality and standard of life of the Croatian citizens.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović also met with the representatives of the Croatian expatriates and took part in the celebration of the 10th anniversary of opening of the building of the Croatian Embassy to Australia.