PHOTO: Croatian PM: I Do Not Wish To Be President

Sanader announced Croatia is planning to open 12 more negotiation chapters by January 1, 2009.

ZAGREB, CROATIA –

- You misinterpreted my statement from yesterday. My future ambitions are to end negotiations with the European Union, to ratify the Croatian European Union accession agreement, win the local election and what is most important, to fight inflation – Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader answered when he was asked if he was going to run for the republic president, upon meeting with Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, while Topolanek joked that Sanader would surely run for president at the next election.

The two prime ministers met with their delegations to discuss the course of Croatian negotiations after the Czech Republic took over European Union presidency. Sanader announced that the Croatian government is planning to open 12 more negotiation chapters by January 1, 2009. He said that he had asked Topolanek for the Czech Parliament to ratify the Croatian European Union accession agreement. His Czech counterpart said that both the Czech and Croatian cabinet would make sure that all the chapters are opened and closed, but delicate chapters are in question and their closure might take a while.

The Czech Prime Minister said his country`s priority during the presidency would be to open Europe outwards, energy security, expansion and opening the EU to the East. Sanader pointed out that the Czech presidency was faced with the crisis in Georgia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Sanader: Construction of a lowland railway and highway for more transport of Czech goods

- Bosnia-Herzegovina is facing constitutional changes and I hope these constitutional changes will guarantee the survival of Bosnia-Herzegovina – Sanader said.

The Croatian PM pointed out that Croatia has used Czech experience during its negotiations and will continue to do so.

The two prime ministers touched on the economic situation in their countries. Sanader said everything would be done to increase the role of Rijeka harbour in the transport of Czech goods, while it is necessary to construct a highway and a lowland railway from Rijeka to Zagreb for this purpose. On the other hand, Topolanek pointed out that numerous Czech entrepreneurs were interested in investing into Croatian energy, companies and tourism.