Croatia Wants Better Co-Operation With Turkey

Co-operation in the area of fighting organised crime, human trafficking, narcotics and arms needs to improve.

ZAGREB, CROATIA - Croatia appreciated Turkish support during its independence process, as it was accepted in the Security Council and in its NATO negotiations. It also expects better co-operation in economy and with fighting organised crime, said Croatian President Stjepan Mesic in Zagreb on Wednesday, upon meeting with Turkish President Abdull Guel.

- It is necessary for us to strengthen economic relations in the upcoming period and improve co-operation when it comes to fighting organised crime, human trafficking, narcotics, arms and fighting international crime – Mesic told the press.

Croatian-Turkish relations are going upward, which is evident from the regular frequency of meetings on the highest level, said the Croatian president. Croatian-Turkish co-operation has a broader, regional dimension, Mesic said, explaining that the Turkish president agreed with him that the relations between Croatia and Turkey are good when it comes to stabilising the situation in South-Eastern Europe.

Croatia and Turkey started negotiations on European Union membership at the same time, Guel said, who is in an official visit in Croatia on Wednesday and Thursday, but Croatia is progressing faster, according to Guel. The EU is a strategic goal for Turkey, but the dynamics of advancement is not the same on all parts of that road and is not the same for everyone. That road is harder for large countries with many residents, but we are working hard and are convinced we will succeed – Guel said.

The two presidents expressed concern over the energy crisis, food crisis and climate changes consequences in the world. According to Mesic, global challenges can be resisted only with global action and harmonised action by the international community.

Representatives of Croatia and Turkey have signed a memo on understanding between the Croatian and Turkish Agency for Promotion of Export and Investment, as well as the agreement between the Croatian and Turkish State Archives.

Guel will meet the President of the Croatian Parliament Luka Bebic and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and visit Dubrovnik and Cavtat on Thursday.