Ban Ki-moon wraps up visit to Croatia with tour of Porec

The United Nations' Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday wrapped up his three-day stay in Croatia with his tour of the coastal Istrian city of Porec where he went sightseeing and visited the Euphrasian Basilica, one of the best examples of early Byzantine architecture in the Mediterranean region, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997.

The visiting UN Secretary-General tod reporters that he had been impressed and elated with Croatia's cultural heritage and history.

He reiterated that the events during the formal opening of the Pula Film Festival in the city's amphitheatre last night had made a great impression on him.

Ban arrived in Zagreb on Friday afternoon after his visit to Slovenia and on Saturday he stayed in the Brijuni archipelago where he held talks with Croatia's top officials, President Ivo Josipovic, Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic and other office-holders. On Saturday evening they attended the ceremony of the opening of the Pula Film Festival.

Istria County Prefect Ivan Jakovcic today described Ban Ki-moon's visit to Croatia as a great success of Croatia's foreign policy.

On Sunday afternoon, the UN Secretary-General is due to leave Croatia for Montenegro.

During his tour of the region, he will also stop in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo.

He arrived in southeast Europe before his travel to China and later to London for the Olympic Games. (Hina)