Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman on Monday visited the Russian Federation.
As part of the visit, Grlić Radman met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The two ministers discussed a number of topics of mutual interest – bilateral relations, economic and cultural cooperation, and tourism. “We can truly be pleased with the trend in our bilateral relations over the past few years, especially the excellent tourism statistics,” Grlić Radman said.
The two ministers also reflected on the complex international circumstances amidst which the visit was taking place. “We talked openly about the current situation and the challenges we face. Both sides are concerned about the situation in Southeast Europe as well as in and around Ukraine. Both Croatia and Russia believe a solution should be found as part of the Minsk Agreements. We also commented on the talks held in that context last week in Geneva, Brussels in Vienna, and I appreciate that my colleague Lavrov provided a Russian view on them. We talked openly about what each side is concerned over,” Grlić Radman said.
He underscored that it was crucial that active diplomatic channels had been opened, stressing the importance of continuing the talks to defuse the situation. “For us it is important that talks on European safety do not take place without European countries and organizations, which also includes the EU and NATO,” he added.
In addition, the two ministers remarked on the EU-Russia relations. Grlić Radman expressed belief that bilateral diplomatic channels between EU member states and Russia, including meetings like this one, could contribute to turning the trends around. “Russia is an extremely important European country and we have to find a lasting modus vivendi regardless of mutual differences,” he underlined.
Apart from talks with Lavrov, Grlić Radman also met with the Metropolitan of Volokolamsk, Hilarion Alfeyev, the Croatian-Russian Business Club and the Croatian-Russian Friendship Society.
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