President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović addresses business leaders in Warsaw.
Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said on Friday at a lecture in Warsaw that in Europe it is necessary to strengthen cooperation among “natural allies” with historical ties which need to be rebuilt. “Central Europe is faced with common economic, geopolitical and security challenges”, she said, adding that in this context co-operation between Poland in the north and Croatia in the south is very important. Although some of the countries were sceptical when the Adriatic-Baltic-Black Sea initiative was first presented, Grabar-Kitarović said that it really is the basis for cooperation between the countries of Central Europe. She expressed her hope that “countries which are now more sceptical will eventually join the initiative”, reports Jutarnji List on January 29, 2016.
During the lecture titled “The Role of Croatia in Increasing the Strength of Central Europe in a Troubled World”, she said that Croatia is preparing to organize a summit of this initiative during the summer which will include 12 countries which could be part of it. She reiterated that it is not “a new international organization, duplication or formalization of the initiative, but a series of specific measures which will lead to specific projects”, such as connecting ports with modern trains which would enable the development of trade, and the construction of LNG terminal which would lead to the strengthening of energy independence and safety.
Speaking about Russia, she said we need to be “vigilant” in the relationship and do not antagonize the situation “because if someone is treated like an enemy, they will soon become one”. “We need to be firm in our position of protecting the international law, but we also must find a way to cooperate with Russia. Cooperation with Russia in Syria is a necessity”, she said.
As for the enlargement of the European Union, particularly to Serbia, the President said that Europe is now in a situation where it is tired of enlargement, but that countries are also tired of reforms which they feel do not produce any results. “That is why it is extremely important for Montenegro to join NATO this year because this would send a strong message that the door is still open”, she said.
Croatia will support Serbia on its path to the EU, and as far as its relations with Russia are concerned, Grabar-Kitarović said that it was “legitimate for every country to cooperate with Russia and to decide whether or not to become a member of NATO for now”.
One of the topics which she spoke about was the refugee crisis. She reiterated her opposition to the imposition of quotas which only waste time, and added that it was necessary to solve the crisis at its roots.
