Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Monday received a working visit from Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Ivan Korčok.
“Croatia and Slovakia enjoy excellent bilateral relations based on a shared cultural heritage, historical experience and common European values,” said Grlić Radman, thanking Slovakia for the humanitarian aid dispatched immediately after the earthquakes that hit Croatia in December and March, describing it as a gesture of compassion and solidarity that underlined the two countries’ friendly and partnership relations. “I am glad that Slovakia could help Croatia. It is yet another proof of how close our nations are and how much we want to help each other in difficult times,” Korčok said, expressing condolences over the loss of lives and material damage caused by the earthquakes.
The two ministers exchanged views on a number of European topics, notably cooperation with the Visegrád Group and within the Three Seas Initiatives, as well as Slovak support for Croatia’s joining the Schengen Area, Eurozone and the OECD. They also reflected on the pandemic, stressing that the upcoming European Council meeting was an opportunity to discuss the epidemiological situation and response coordination. “We have to respect the agreement on joint procurement of the vaccine. A smooth distribution is still the priority,” Grlić Radman emphasized.
The two ministers also talked about Southeast Europe and the new accession talk methodology. Grlić Radman underscored hope that the Council of the EU would reach a consensus on the negotiating frameworks for Albania and North Macedonia, and that the European Commission would present the report on the implementation of the new methodology for Montenegro and Serbia soon, in order to overcome the impasse in EU enlargement. Korčok agreed that it was important to continue with the enlargement, confirming that that would be one of the topics of the upcoming European Council meeting.
Grlić Radman welcomed the reopening of tourist railway Prague-Brno-Bratislava-Rijeka-Split. “It will additionally connect our countries and facilitate the arrival of Slovak and other tourists from Central Europe to the Adriatic,” he said. Korčok stressed that Slovakia appreciated Croatia’s efforts to create conditions for the safe vacationing of Slovak tourists in the Adriatic during the upcoming season, expressing hope that the season would unfold to mutual satisfaction.