Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, during her official visit to Canada, met 21 November 2006 in Ottawa with Canadian Foreign Minister Peter Gordon MacKay and Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Monte Solberg ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, during her official visit to Canada, met 21 November 2006 in Ottawa with Canadian Foreign Minister Peter Gordon MacKay and Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Monte Solberg.
Minister Grabar-Kitarovic and Minister MacKay talked about a series of topics, namely the bilateral relations between Croatia and Canada, which both described as intensified and on the rise.
Minister Grabar-Kitarovic informed Minister MacKay about the progress Croatia has made and the reforms being conducted, pointing out she sees the future of the South Eastern Europe in the EU and NATO, as a guarantee of security and prosperity for that part of Europe, based on individual achievements of each country. Minister MacKay congratulated Croatia on its impressive achievements, saying he considers Croatia the region's leader. He expressed strong support for Croatia's further progress, stating Canada's support for Croatia's efforts in achieving full EU and NATO membership.
Minister Grabar-Kitarovic thanked Minister MacKay for Canada's continuous support and expressed equal satisfaction with the co-operation between Croatia and Canada within the UN peacekeeping missions, especially ISAF in Afghanistan, where both countries have their contingents. She states she is convinced in the continuation of the Croatia-Canada co-operation within multilateral organisations. Minister Grabar-Kitarovic noted that there is room for intensification of the co-operation between Croatia and Canada in the field of experience exchange in international security, trade and economic co-operation and investment, and cultural co-operation, adding that there is a wish and a potential for the increase of the number of the Canadian tourists visiting Croatia.
Ministers Grabar-Kitarovic and MacKay also reviewed the continuation of the political and technical dialogue between the two countries' ministries of foreign affairs, co-operation in shipbuilding, refugee return process, and visa system. Ministers Grabar-Kitarovic noted that there is a strong wish for making progress as regards the visa system issue, respecting the position of the Croatian citizens in filling out the numerous visa application forms, and for the Croatian position to be reviewed, pointing out the positive change of circumstances since the implementation of the application forms.
Minister Grabar-Kitarovic informed Minister MacKay about the changed made in Croatia in the past years. She also mentioned Croatia's full co-operation with the ICTY, its participation in the UN peacekeeping missions, such as ISAF in Afghanistan, Croatia as a full EU membership candidate country, and the last European Commission's Report that described Croatia as a democratic, stable, and developed country. A continuation of the dialogue about the visa regime was agreed upon, and Minister Grabar-Kitarovic stressed that there is a strong wish for the solution to that issue. It was suggested that a Canadian delegation pay a technical-level visit to Croatia for the purposes of getting a better insight into the situation and the conditions in Croatia.
Ivana Crnic
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