Prime Minister Plenković is in Rome.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković arrived on a Friday in Rome. During the day, he met at the Croatian Embassy with representatives of the Croat community living in Italy, and he later met informally with Italian Prime Minister Paulo Gentiloni, reports Jutarnji List on October 7, 2017.
At the meeting with Croats living in Italy, Plenković said they needed to keep their Croatian identity. “I want you to cultivate and protect Croatian identity, Croatian culture, especially in the areas where Croats are an indigenous minority,” said Plenković in his address.
The meeting with the Prime Minister was attended by the representatives of Croats from Rome, Udine, Milan, and Molise, and he expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to meet with them and discuss the strengthening of the status of Croats in Italy.
He was interested in the activities and efforts which have been undertaken in order to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. The Prime Minister noted that Croatia and Italy had a very developed political, economic and cultural co-operation, and added that a few days ago in Tallinn, on the margins of a European summit, he formally met with Italian Prime Minister Gentiloni, with whom he talked about numerous issues.
“What matters is that Italy will support us on our way to the entry into the Schengen Area, and it will support us in our efforts to meet the criteria for introducing the euro, as it is one of the elements that were part of our EU accession agreement. We will also work together to strengthen economic and trade cooperation, investments, education and emphasise the Adriatic and Mediterranean orientation of the country,” said Plenković.
Talking about his Saturday’s visit to the Vatican, the Prime Minister said he was honoured to visit the Holy See while describing the scheduled meeting with Pope Francis as one of the “most important moments in the work of any prime minister in terms of international activities.”
The Holy Father will receive the Prime Minister in an audience today, together with the Prime Minister’s family members. Plenković will also meet with the Secretary of State of the Holy See Cardinal Pietro Parolin and will visit the Papal Croatian Institute of St. Jerome.
Translated from Jutarnji List.
