Croat PM: Statement of intent on cooperation in defence to contribute to enhanced defence of Croatia and Romania

Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic on Friday stated, after his meeting with Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, that the signing of the Statement of Intent between the two governments regarding their bilateral cooperation in the defence and security field will contribute to the enhanced defence of Croatia and Romania.

"I want to say a warm hello and to thank Mrs. Prime Minister, my dear colleague, who is now in this office, after we were MEPs in the EP together for a while. The fact that we are here proves also our intention to have the best bilateral cooperation between Romania and Croatia and an open dialogue at ministers and ministries level. We also must confess that we haven't had such a constructive dialogue in the past while," the Croatian Prime Minister told a joint press statement with Viorica Dancila.

Andrej Plenkovic referred to the statement of intent signed between the two governments, as well as the increase recorded in the trade exchanges to 310 billion euros.

"We are especially glad of the increase in the trade exchanges which reached 310 billion euros, and also about the statement of intent concluded between the Romanian and Croatian governments on the consolidation of our bilateral relation in the defence and security field that we signed together, (...) and which, certainly, will contribute to an enhanced defence of our states," said the Croatian official.

He mentioned that an important role in the bilateral relations between Romania and Croatia is played by the Croatian minority in Romania and the Romanian minority in Croatia, respectively.

"We are also glad that in the bilateral relations between Romania and Croatia an important role is played by the Croatian minority in Romania and the Romanian minority in Croatia, respectively. The Croatian minority in Romania is one of the oldest minorities that Croatia has abroad, and this minority kept its national identity for more than 600 years. Therefore, I want to thank Mrs. Prime Minister for the existence of the political representative of the Croatian minority in the Romanian Parliament, and at the same time for the access to education that the Croatian children had, by which they kept their identity and culture. At the same time, we are making all the efforts so that Romanians living in Istria to represent a cultural added value that significantly contribute to our culture, alongside the other 22 minorities in Croatia," said Andrej Plenkovic.

The Croatian Prime Minister mentioned hat at the meeting with PM Viorica Dancila they also approached political topics regarding the rotating presidency of Romania of the Council of the EU.

Croatia and Romania support the neighbouring states in their process of accession to EU and NATO, Andrej Plenkovic also said.

"We are converging both Croatia and Romania to give the necessary support to the neighbouring states with respect to the EU and NATO accession. Another common topic was related to the Danube, for we want to significantly improve this corridor, to allow us an advanced economic and commercial cooperation. I also brought to mind the Initiative of The Three Seas, which will help Romania and the Black Sea, Finland and the Baltic Sea and Croatia and the Adriatic Sea to improve their collaboration on this segment," said the Croatian PM.

He also refereed to the accession to the Schengen Zone.

"Another criterion is both Romania and Croatia's interest in the Schengen Zone, and I believe that we have reached an advanced stage, or maybe even met all the technical criteria that make us both eligible for accession. I informed Mrs. Prime Minister with respect to the initiative that Croatia adopted last week, it is about the adoption of the euro currency, a second key matter in meeting the objectives in the EU," said the Croatian official.

In the end, the Croatian PM mentioned that he invited PM Viorica Dancila to pay a visit to Croatia as soon as possible.

The Minister of National Defence, Mihai Fifor, and Deputy PM and Croatian Minister of Defence, Damir Krsticevic, on Friday signed at the Victoria Palace, in the presence of the PMs from the two states, "The Statement of Intent between the Romanian Government and the Government of the Republic of Croatia regarding the consolidation of bilateral cooperation in the defence and security fields." AGERPRES (RO - author: Alina Novaceanu, editor: Mihai Simionescu; EN - author: Cristina Zaharia, editor: Adina Panaitescu)

 

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