ZAGREB, December 4, 2018 – Croatia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Marija Pejčinović Burić, met with the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, in Zagreb on Monday, and reiterated the position that Croatia supports Ukraine on its European journey.
Pejčinović Burić said that Croatia supported Ukraine on its European path by providing operational and technical assistance and sharing its experience from this process.
She praised Ukraine for the progress made in implementing reforms, saying that the reform process was going well and was bringing Ukraine closer to Euro-Atlantic integration despite the difficult security situation and challenges the country was facing.
The two officials expressed satisfaction with the cooperation within the working group for Croatia-Ukraine cooperation, the work of the joint commission on economic cooperation, and the positive trend in trade and tourism, which is evident in the growing number of Ukrainian tourists visiting Croatia.
Pejčinović Burić said that Croatian companies were interested in doing business in Ukraine, notably in the IT, energy, pharmaceutical and chemical industries and other sectors of the economy.
They also discussed the security situation in Ukraine and its surroundings. Concern was expressed about the current situation in the Sea of Azov and the Strait of Kerch, Russian activities and the further escalation of tensions, which has resulted in the injuring of Ukrainian seamen and their being taken prisoner, the blockade of Ukrainian seaports, and the prevention of maritime traffic.
Pejčinović Burić called for exercising restraint, respecting international law and preventing further escalation. She said that Croatia continued to strongly support the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.
Before meeting Pejčinović Burić, Klympush-Tsintsadze had met with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who emphasised the importance of further strengthening bilateral relations between Croatia and Ukraine.
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