State Secretary for Political Affairs Hido Biščević received the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, headed by Committee President Jan Hamaček

State Secretary Biščević underlined the excellent relationships between the two countries, with no open issues, and expressed gratitude for Czech support to Croatia on its path to Euro Atlantic integration. He informed his collocutors on other Croatian foreign policy priorities, chiefly the efforts to initiate an increase in political and economic cooperation in South East Europe, by means of activities under Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and South East European Economic Co-operation Process (SEECP). State Secretary Biščević put special emphasis on Croatian interest for further stabilization of the region, including the direct significance of the democratic, pro-European block in Serbia forming the new Serbian government, as well as the importance of continuing with a constructive approach to the Kosovo status issue. The conversation especially focused on the need to further strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina institutionally and incorporate the country into Euro Atlantic integration.

President of the Parliamentary Committee Hamaček said the Czech Republic had already started the preparations for its EU presidency, to be taken over in the first half of 2009, together in the group with the French Republic and the Kingdom of Sweden from mid 2008 to the end of 2009. He stressed that one of the priorities during Czech presidency will be Croatia’s joining the EU as full member country.