Minister Grabar-Kitarović received to a visit today, July 12, 2005, the Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Bot

During her conversation with the Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Bot, Minister Grabar-Kitarović stressed her satisfaction at the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, which would be further strengthened in the future, putting the emphasis on economy, tourism and culture. Minister Grabar-Kitarović reported to Minister Bot on the implementation of the Croatian Government Action Plan, and on the maximum efforts the Republic of Croatia was making in co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague. Minister Grabar-Kitarović also thanked the Royal Netherlands on its technical and humanitarian help to Croatia, which the Royal Netherlands tends to provide in the future as well, in the form of specific projects.

The Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Bot stressed the Royal Netherlands' special interest in Croatia, and announced a donation to the project of re-establishing a ferry connection on the Danube River near Vukovar. He expressed the Netherlands' interest in Croatia's economy and welfare development, and in the strengthening of regional co-operation. Minister Bot stressed the Royal Netherlands would continue to provide Croatia with support in its European Union pre-accession negotiations, commending the actions Croatia had made so far, and holding it up as an example to all other countries in the region. Minister Bot thanked on the received welcome, and announced the Royal Netherlands Development Minister would visit Croatia in the autumn this year.