Address of H. E.
Gordan Jandroković, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European
Integration of the Republic of Croatia,
at the Japan Press Club
Tokyo, 8th September 2010
Highlights of the Croatian
Foreign Policy
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me first express my great pleasure
to have the opportunity to speak before the representatives of the
Japanese media during my first bilateral visit to Japan.
I am
sure that the great beauty of your country and the planned visits to
some of its famous historic and cultural sites will make my stay in
Japan memorable.
I am really looking forward to all the meetings that I will have here
in the next couple of days.
I have just met H. E. Takeo Nishioka, Speaker of the House of
Councilors, who was my first esteemed interlocutor.
Once again we have confirmed very good and friendly relations between
Croatia and Japan.
Our
parliaments and parliamentarians, particularly those participating in
friendship groups, have significantly contributed to building strong
relations over the years and continue to do so.
That is just one of the strong bonds that connect Croatia and Japan.
I would like to briefly mention some other aspects of our relations
that we highly appreciate.
Croatia has in the last twelve years received a total of 4 million
Euros in development aid from Japan.
And, which is equally important to us, we have received 1.3 million in
donations for demining.
The
strong support that the Japanese project Mayors for Peace has seen in
Croatia witnesses that we share the same feeling for human solidarity.
So far 31 mayors of Croatian cities had joined it, including the
current vice-president, the mayor of Biograd na Moru.
Our
countries also share a passionate love of sports, notably football,
which has brought Croatia and Japan even closer during your hosting of
the World Cup in 2002.
The warm hospitality shown to our
national team in Tokamachi has sparked the idea to build a
Croatian-Japanese friendship house in that city.
I am happy to say that the project will soon be underway and is
expected to be completed by the end of next year.
Moreover, I am very pleased to say that it is quite clear that both our
countries wish to get to know one another even better.
We
share a keen interest in each other's views on a range of global
issues, as well as in the possibilities of getting the most out of the
potentials of our bilateral cooperation.
Today I will discuss foreign policy issues with my gracious host, my
Japanese colleague H.E. Katsuya Okada.
Tomorrow
I will also meet other Japanese high officials to whom I will also
present the most recent political, economic and other developments in
Croatia and South East Europe.
Ever since gaining independence
in 1991, Croatia’s main foreign policy priorities were related to the
Euro-Atlantic integration processes, to joining the European Union and
NATO.
We are very proud that our ambition and a lot of hard work involved in
achieving those priorities has paid off.
As of last year, Croatia is a full and active member of NATO.
When
it comes to the strategic goal that is still to be attained, we can
state that today Croatia stands at the very doorstep of the EU.
Croatia has undergone the most rigorous EU accession negotiations so
far.
The
far-reaching reforms, even as they might be a necessary precondition
for entering the EU, we have undertaken first and foremost for our own
sake - for the sake of our citizens, for the sake of their better
future.
Our hard work is bearing fruit.
We are, as I like to
put it, running the final lap in our EU accession negotiations,
determined to achieve the goal of EU membership in 2012.
The significance of our achievements in the EU framework, as well as
that of NATO, transcends Croatia’s borders.
It sends an important signal to all the countries that will follow on
our path.
The
European integration perspective has a crucial stabilizing and
developmental potential for our region where Croatia’s leading role has
been recognized.
And this we owe not only to our achievements within the Euro-Atlantic
framework.
It
is to a large extent also owed to the fact that Croatia pays particular
attention to advancing good bilateral relations with its neighbors and
to comprehensive regional cooperation as ways to ensure a better future
for all involved.
I believe that Croatian government's political
will and vision are crucial in creating a positive atmosphere of trust,
aimed at ensuring a long term stability and development of SEE.
We
are doing our share in the region, as we are aware that its stability
influences not only us in the immediate neighborhood, but also Europe
and beyond.
And this understanding is what underlies our engagement on the broader
international scene.
The Croatian contribution to stabilizing Afghanistan is a point in
case.
Our
contingent in ISAF numbers 300 troops and we are strongly committed to
strengthening security, training Afghan forces and rebuilding the
country.
I know that the same goals are shared by Japan, a major financial
contributor in Afghanistan.
That
is why I hope that the proposed cooperation between our two countries
within the scope of a Provincial Reconstruction Team geared towards
satisfying basic civilian needs in Afghanistan will be successfully
realized.
And precisely these concerted multidimensional efforts are what is
needed to ensure global security.
Being
aware of that, Croatia is not only present in Afghanistan, but also
contributes to 13 other peace missions around the world - be it under
the auspices of NATO, United Nations or European Union.
Croatia and Japan also attach great importance to an efficient
multilateral approach in international relations.
Both
countries are responsible and active participants in multilateral fora,
holding non-permanent seats on the UN Security Council in 2009.
This is another proof of how Croatia’s international stature has grown
since the early 1990s.
Mrs.
Sadako Ogata, who now heads the Japan International Cooperation Agency
and with whom I will meet tomorrow, was at the time the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees and involved in assisting Croatia.
But
today - for example – Croatia’s former Minister of Justice Mr. Ivan
Šimonović, holds the office of the Assistant UN Secretary General for
human rights.
Along with our achievements with regard to the
membership in NATO and the EU, our leading role in South East Europe
and our engagement on the broader international scene, there is another
important determinant of Croatia’s foreign policy.
And this is undoubtedly strengthening economic ties with all our
partners across the globe.
We place great importance on bolstering Croatian exports and attracting
foreign investors to Croatia.
Its
free, open, transparent market offers a competitive advantage in terms
of its geographical location and inter-European traffic connections.
Possibilities
are numerous, which is why the improvement of Croatian-Japanese
economic and trade cooperation should receive the attention it
certainly deserves.
I am pleased that during this, unfortunately
relatively short visit to Japan, two very important gatherings of the
Croatian and Japanese business communities will take place.
And
it is my sincere hope that they will contribute to fostering both
opportunities to diversify Croatian exports to Japan, as well as induce
a new investment cycle of Japanese companies in Croatia.
Even though
there might exist certain structural differences between our economies,
we should seek for ways to make full use of the competitive advantages
that we can offer to each other.
And finally, let me turn to an
economic field in which Croatia has had extremely encouraging trends
throughout the last decade, namely tourism.
In the first seven months of 2010, 5.5 million tourists visited
Croatia, that is, 3% more than in the same period last year.
Statistical
data show that for example in July this year, only a month ago, we had
2.7 million tourists visiting Croatia, a country of 4 million
inhabitants.
It is 9% more than in the same month last year.
We are extremely pleased that Japanese tourists are choosing Croatia
for their holiday destination in increasing numbers.
I believe that Croatia’s participation at 2005 EXPO in Aichi
marked a breakthrough in that regard.
In 2009 we hosted some 165 thousand Japanese tourists.
Hopefully,
considering that we have invested great efforts to promote Croatian
cultural heritage, tradition and unspoiled nature in Japan, we will
close 2010 with even better figures.
It is my sincere hope that you yourselves will come to Croatia and
discover it first-hand.
But,
before you do, take your chance to get at least a second-hand
impression by asking me everything that might be of your interest and
the interest of your readers.
