State Secretary Bianca Matković received Macedonian Ambassador for inaugural visit

State Secretary Matković and Ambassador Markovski both expressed mutual satisfaction with the bilateral relations between the two countries hoping for further improvement of economic co-operation. Expressing her belief that Macedonia would, along with Croatia, become one of the stability factors in the region, State Secretary Matković expressed her hope that Macedonia would soon receive an invitation for NATO membership and speed up its integration into the EU. She used the opportunity to point out that the path towards the Euroatlantic integration, of which Croatia is soon to become a member, is the only alternative and basis for all undertaken and future reforms. State Secretary Matković said that the purpose of these reforms is to achieve permanent stability, increased level of foreign investment and higher living standard.

Ambassador Markovski informed State Secretary Matković on current affairs in the Republic of Macedonia, which just went through parliamentary elections, as well as on foreign policy efforts in the process of joining the NATO alliance and the European Union. Pointing out that economic co-operation development between Croatia and Macedonia is an important factor in strengthening bilateral relations, the Ambassador stressed that during the past several months he had, as an ambassador, visited over 30 Croatian companies which plan to enter the Macedonian market.