First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusić 19 September received the incoming ambassadors of Israel and Portugal, Zine Kalay-Kleitman and Júlio José de Oliveira Carranca Vilela, and the outgoing ambassador of Turkey, Burak Őzugergin.
Welcoming the Israeli ambassador, Pusić underlined the good bilateral relations, hopeful that the two countries’ successful cooperation would continue. They also discussed the current situation in the Middle East, namely Iraq and Syria, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU path. Pusić said Croatia was in consensus in regard to the policy towards the region, adding that Euro-Atlantic processes in the countries the Western Balkans, notably Bosnia and Herzegovina, were one of Croatia’s foreign policy priorities.
The Portuguese ambassador stressed the importance of reciprocal high-level visits, adding that Portugal, given Croatia’s position and capacities, was very interested in intensifying the cooperation. He and the Croatian FM also talked about further strengthening the economic cooperation. Highlighting the two countries’ solid cooperation within the EU, Pusić expressed willingness to strengthen cooperation and mutual assistance in areas of joint interest, notably in spreading to third-country markets. The ambassador was also received 22 September by Deputy Minister Joško Klisović.
Congratulating him on a successful term of office, Pusić thanked the Turkish ambassador for his personal contribution to the development of Croatian-Turkish cooperation. They also discussed various bilateral, European and international topics, with both expressing satisfaction over the development of the two friendly countries’ cooperation in all areas.