Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Joško Klisović received the incoming ambassadors of Malaysia, Dato' Saiful Azam Martinus Bin Abdullah, and Albania, Ilir Melo.
Klisović and the Malaysian ambassador confirmed the solid political relations and the willingness to strengthen economic cooperation. Klisović said that Croatia planned to strengthen economic cooperation with other Southeast Asian countries as well, underlining the importance of promoting economy through economic diplomacy. He informed his interlocutor about Croatia’s comparative advantages and potential areas of economic cooperation, including investing in and using Croatia’s seaports and airports for placing Malaysian goods on the European markets. The Malaysian ambassador conveyed his country’s readiness to intensify economic cooperation and expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between scientific institutes and universities.
The two officials also confirmed the solid cooperation within multilateral organizations, hopeful that the cooperation within EU-ASEAN and ASEM would intensify. Klisović congratulated Bin Abdullah on Malaysia’s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2015-2016 period.
Klisović and the Albanian ambassador emphasized the excellent bilateral relations as well as the willingness to enhance economic cooperation. They also underlined Croatia’s strong support for Albania’s Euro-integration path, with Melo pointing out the exchange of Euro-integration experiences and adding that Albania had established its Centre of Excellence upon Croatia’s model. He thanked for Croatia’s contribution to the process of granting Albania the candidate status, adding that Tirana saw Zagreb as a link with Brussels for the entire region. The two officials also discussed prospects for the development of economic cooperation, notably in view of the Adriatic-Ionian Highway and the IAP-TAP energy routes as a solution for gas supply diversification and greater energy independence.
Melo also met with Assistant Minister for European Affairs Hrvoj Marušić and Assistant Minister for European Law, International Law and Consular Affairs Andreja Metelko-Zgombić.