Swedish Foreign Minister received State Secretary Biščević

The meeting also discussed the current situation in view of Ahtisaari’s proposal, with both sides agreeing about the importance of the efforts to make the Belgrade and Priština’s positions meet and for the leading international factors to continue with their joint approach.

State Secretary Biščević informed the Swedish minister about Croatia’s view and the broader development of the situation in South East Europe. Both sides agreed that solving the remaining open issues requires a measured and balanced approach, and is in the interest of the permanent stability of Europe’s south east. State Secretary Biščević also informed Minister Bildt about Croatia’s EU membership negotiations, with the Swedish side reiterating the strong support for Croatia’s EU aspirations and the interest for a meeting of the two countries’ prime ministers to be held soon.

State Secretary Biščević also met with State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Frank Belfrage, Co-ordinator of Swedish Presidency over the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) Christer Persson, and Director of CBSS Secretariat Gabriela Kötschau, as a part of the activities of Croatian SEECP presidency and getting acquainted with the practice of regional co-operation in Europe.

State Secretary Biščević talked with his Swedish collocutors about the structure and mechanism of regional co-operation existing within the CBSS, which gathers 11 Baltic states and the European Commission, and has been active for the past 15 years. The meeting also pointed out the importance of regional co-operation in today’s unified Europe, among other things, for the realisation of individual goals and interest, and inclusion into the Euro-Atlantic structures.