Minister Picula met Mr. Jan Petersen, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Norway...

On Thursday, 29 May 2003, Mr. Jan Petersen, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Norway met Mr. Tonino Picula, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Croatia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia where they held official bilateral talks of the two delegations.

Satisfaction with very good relations and frequent bilateral meetings was expressed, as well as gratitude of the Croatian side for continual financial support of Norway for the realisation of projects in the areas under special Government care. Further on, information was exchanged on the situation in the region and on the activities related to the accession of Croatia to the EU and NATO. Possibilities of further economic and other cooperation were mentioned as well.

The Norwegian side was informed in more detail on the Croatian preparations for joining NATO. Norway, as one of the NATO founder states, is fully integrated in the EU in terms of economy by the Agreement on the European Economic Space, but with no right to pass political decisions.

The Croatian side expressed gratitude for continual Norwegian assistance in the realisation of projects on areas under special Government care and handed to the Norwegian Foreign Minister a map with a proposal of 12 projects for 2003. The possibility of using Norwegian knowledge, experience and technology in resolving the problem of waste waters, as well as the economic cooperation with particular emphasis on the possibility of promoting Croatian tourism were mentioned as well. Norwegian side was asked to support the Croatian candidature as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2007.

Minister Jan Petersen invited Minister Picula to officially visit Oslo which he accepted with pleasure.

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