Minister Grabar-Kitarović met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Arab League’s Secretary General Amr Moussa, Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit

In the meeting between Minister Grabar-Kitarović and Egyptian President Mubarak, both sides agreed that the bilateral relations between the two countries are good and friendly, with no open issues. The two talked about their further development, with an emphasis on the economic, cultural and scientific co-operation, as well as co-operation on the multilateral level. The collocutors also noted the state of affairs in the Near East, namely the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other crisis points in the area, and exchanged opinions about the current relations between Croatia and the EU and the course of the negotiations process, state of affairs in South East Europe, and Egypt’s co-operation with the Union within the Barcelona Process.

In the meeting with Arab League’s Secretary General Amr Moussa, Minister Grabar-Kitarović pointed out the good relations of the Republic of Croatia with Arab states, adding that Croatia, as in part a Mediterranean country, is interested in strengthening the co-operation with Mediterranean countries, namely in trade, energy and tourism. She also noted the historic dimension of Croatia’s relations with the Mediterranean countries of the Islamic tradition. Secretary General Moussa stressed the need for the intensification for the co-operation between the northern and southern Mediterranean countries, pointing out Croatia’s contribution to the Alliance of Civilisations initiative, which is advocating that co-operation. The two sides also exchanged opinions about the current situation in the relations in the Middle and Near East, with an emphasis on the areas of disturbed peace and stability, namely the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the situation in Lebanon, Iraq and Iran, with the Croatian side expressing support for the international community’s efforts to stop the violence and solve the crisis in a peaceful manner and through negotiations. The meeting also discussed the possibilities of strengthening the co-operation within NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue, with Minister Grabar-Kitarović informing the Secretary General with Croatia’s contribution to 11 UN peacekeeping missions on four continents. She also noted Croatia’s participation in missions to Africa and the ISAF peacekeeping mission to Afghanistan, as well as the participation of Croatian police instructors in the training program for Iraqi police officials at the Jordan International Police Trainings Center. She also requested support for Croatia’s candidacy for a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2008-2009 period. Minister Grabar-Kitarović and Secretary General Moussa signed the Memorandum on the Co-operation between the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration and the League of Arab States that confirms the co-operation on all levels in matters of joint interest within the UN and Arab League charters and the regulations of the international law.

At the end of her official visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Minister Grabar-Kitarović once again met with Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit, on which occasion the two discussed strengthening the co-operation in numerous areas, especially economy. Both sides expressed interest for a sooner ratification of the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Agreement on Air Traffic, which will directly contribute to the increase of the economic trade between the two sides.