Minister Grabar-Kitarović on official visit to Russia

Minister Grabar-Kitarović met on Wednesday with the plenipotentiary representative of the Russian President for the Central Federal District, Georgy Poltavchenko, with whom she discussed the concrete economic co-operation between the Republic of Croatia and the Central Federal District of Moscow. In light of the mutually expressed interest in developing good economic relations, the two reviewed the possibilities of and areas in which co-operation can be strengthened. Plenipotentiary representative Poltavchenko informed Minister Grabar-Kitarović about the potentials of the Central Federal District, with Moscow as its centre, as the economically most developed district of the Russian Federation. Minister Grabar-Kitarović pointed out that a group of Croatia businessmen was also officially visiting the Russian Federation to hold business talks with their Russian partners and reiterated the interest for the continuation of the good co-operation in shipbuilding, construction, and banking.

During the meeting with Vice-Chairman of the Duma Valentin Kupcov, Minister Grabar-Kitarović expressed satisfaction with the development of the parliamentary co-operation, as evidenced by the exchange of visits between the delegations of the Croatian Parliament and the Duma, noting that in June 2006 the delegation of the Croatian Parliament visited Moscow, and in September 2006 the Duma’s Russian-Croatian Club visited Zagreb. The minister presented Croatia’s basic foreign policy goals and confirmed that good-neighbourly relations with other SEE countries are among its foreign policy’s priorities. Vice-Chairman of the Duma Kupcov said he closely monitors the situation in the South-Eastern Europe and considers Croatia to be and important subject in the stability of the region.

As a part of her official visit, Minister Grabar-Kitarović held a lecture at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs entitled Challenges Awaiting Croatia and Other SEE Countries in the Euro-Atlantic Integration Process.

In the lecture, Minister Grabar-Kitarović pointed out that Croatia’s basic international goals are being realised in accordance with the foreseen dynamics and that the chosen path ensures an appropriate inclusion into the global events, further progress and development, stability, and security. “Although sometimes there is a public debate going on about the possible advantages and disadvantages of the Euro-Atlantic integration for Croatia, Croatia is already achieving good results in many areas, stemming precisely from advancing towards a full membership. This especially goes for the area of economy, as evidenced by the macroeconomic indexes”, said Minister Grabar-Kitarović. As regards the EU membership negotiations, she said that a year after the star of the negotiations, Croatia has successfully completed the first phase – the screening process. The Croatian Government is responsibly and dedicatedly approaching the necessary reforms and the practical implementation of the European standards. Speaking about the co-operation with the neighbouring and other SEE countries, Minister Grabar-Kitarović pointed out that Croatia has committed itself to a wider regional co-operation, especially in the area of the South-Eastern Europe, as the basis for a wider stability. Minister Grabar-Kitarović noted the fact that Croatia has been recognised by the international community as a catalyst of democratic processes and an important stability factor in the region, as well as the region’s leader concerning the progress towards the EU membership and all of the activities directed at developing the regional co-operation, solving bilateral issues, and assisting other countries in the field of Euro-Atlantic integration. Croatia is presiding over or taking active part in numerous regional integrations and initiatives. Minister Grabar-Kitarović singled out as the most current the SEECP, as the framework ensuring further support for the all-encompassing realisation of peace and development, as well as the promotion of the region’s democratic potentials, and CEFTA enlargement towards the SEE countries with the aim strengthening economic co-operation in the region, as a positive incentive for the opening of individual markets through the liberalisation and facilitation of trade.