Pusić met with US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns

The two officials expressed satisfaction with the exceptionally high level of friendly and partnering relations between their countries. Pusić said that the Croatian government was ready to continue the full cooperation with the US as a reliable partner in the region and a true ally in dealing with the global challenges

The two officials expressed satisfaction with the exceptionally high level of friendly and partnering relations between their countries. Pusić said that the Croatian government was ready to continue the full cooperation with the US as a reliable partner in the region and a true ally in dealing with the global challenges.

Burns said that during the 20 years of its independence Croatia had entered NATO and was on the threshold of its accession to the EU, which was why Croatia was a model to all its neighbours aspiring to join Euro-Atlantic integration processes. Both sides voiced willingness to carry on with the cooperation in the transfer of Croatia’s transition experiences to other countries in the region and the south Mediterranean.

The coming 20th anniversary of the United States’ recognition of Croatia on 7 April was described as a good opportunity for high-level bilateral meetings.

Pusić said she hoped for a stronger support on part of the State Department for the inclusion of Croatia in the visa-waiver programme, in light of the fact that Congress was currently considering the visa regime liberalisation.

Also discussed was the advancement of economic cooperation and the United States’ investment in Croatia, a good example of that being the joint organization of the Brown Forum to be held 2 and 3 April this year in Opatija.

Pusić and Burns pointed out the intensive bilateral cooperation within NATO, as well as Croatia’s contribution to ISAF, KFOR and other UN-led missions. In that regard, the two officials talked about the role of allies in ISAF after 2014, which will be the main topic of this year’s NATO Summit in Chicago, in which Pusić announced her participation.

The meeting also reviewed the current state of affairs in the countries of South Eastern Europe.

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