Croatian Foreign Minister Miomir Žužul met today, 4 March 2004, in Zagreb with Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium Louis Michel
Bilateral relations between Croatia and Belgium are successful and friendly in all areas, said Minister Žužul, thanking Belgium for all it did in peaceful reintegration of Podunavlje region and for all the help and support it continues to offer Croatia. Belgium’s importance is critical for all integration processes on the continent and holds a principled position, said Minister Žužul, pointing out that Belgium’s support to Croatia’s joining the EU and NATO is direct and unconditional.
Minister Louis Michel commended Croatia’s efforts in approaching the EU, especially in the field of economy, encouraging it to continue along the same path. As a member of the EU. the Kingdom of Belgium eagerly awaits the admission of Croatia because it believes that Croatia belongs to the community of European nations and can play an important role both in the region and in Europe, said the Belgian Foreign Minister, encouraging the Croatian government to tackle the refugees issue, regional co-operation, minority relations and co-operations with the Hague Criminal Tribunal. Intensive and honest relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Kingdom of Belgium, which Minister Michel described today as privileged, are evident, among other things, in Belgium’s readiness to offer concrete help to Croatia in all areas – by transferring expert knowledge and financing concrete projects, especially in the Podunavlje region. Belgium considers Croatia to be a privileged partner that it supports fully and consistently in its efforts to join the EU and NATO. It is Belgium’s belief that Croatia is run by a modern and open-minded government that will make Croatia as a leading country in the region a part of the family of European democratic countries.
Minister Louis Michel was also received today by Croatian President Stjepan Mesić and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. Later today, Ministers Žužul and Michel with their delegations will visit Vukovar and the project sites in that part of Croatia financed by the Belgian government.
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