Minister Grabar-Kitarović paid official visit to Hungary; met with Parliament’s Speaker Szili, Prime Minister Gyurcsany, Foreign Minister Goncz

The meeting between Minister Grabar-Kitarović and Parliament’s Speaker Szili confirmed that the bilateral relations between the two countries are developing in the spirit of neighbourliness and without open issues. In that sense, the two noted the “strategic partnership” between Croatia and Hungary, the main guidelines of which are the very good political, economic and cultural co-operation, and the mutual protection of minorities. The meeting also reviewed the proposals for the coming bilateral visits by high-level state officials.

In the meeting between Minister Grabar-Kitarović and Foreign Minister Goncz, both sides confirmed the existence of very good and friendly relations between the two countries. The co-operation between Croatia and Hungary is growing constantly and in all areas, said Minister Grabar-Kitarović, describing it as an example of neighbourly relations between two countries in the region. The Croatian side expressed gratitude for the continual and unconditional support for Croatia in its process of EU and NATO accession.

The two sides confirmed the continuation of the co-operation in Euro-Atlantic integration and reviewed the possibilities of intensifying the co-operation in tourism, culture, mutual protection of national minorities, cross- and border issues. The meeting also discussed the preparations for the forthcoming 2nd session of the two countries’ governments, to be held in May 2007 in Zagreb. The Hungarian side also proposed a presentation of the Croatian cultural tradition as a part of the project that Pecs will present as one of Europe’s cities of culture in 2010.

Minister Grabar-Kitarović and Prime Minister Gyurcsany also confirmed the mutual wish for the further enhancement and development of the relations on all levels. Both sides describes as successful the activities of the two government’s Mixed Committee for Co-operation, which both sides consider an important factor in the development of future interstate and institutional co-operation. The bilateral economic co-operation has been on the constant rise in the past few years, as was the trade. The meeting pointed out that Croatia wishes to increase its export to Hungary with the aim of decreasing the existing deficit. The Croatian side expressed satisfaction with Hungary’s investment in Croatia, noting the openness to new investments, especially in the export-oriented production.

Both sides stressed the importance of developing traffic infrastructure, primarily on routes 5/b and 5/c of the pan-European traffic corridor. The modernisation of traffic infrastructure will contribute to the importance of port traffic, and the two sides in that regard discussed the further co-operation of the Mixed Croatian-Hungarian Society and the increase of the port of Rijeka’s transhipment capacity.

Both sides also expressed the conviction that the joint Croatian-Hungarian candidacy for hosting the 2012 European soccer championship will significantly contribute to the further development of the overall co-operation between the two countries, especially in economy and tourism.

During her visit to Hungary, Minister Grabar-Kitarović also met with the representatives of the Hungarian Croats, Mijo Karagić, President of the Croatian Self-Government, and Joso Ostrogonac, President of the Association of Croatians in Hungary.