- Published: 23.09.2008.
Prime Minister Sanader meets leaders of Montenegro, Chile, Iceland, Qatar
ZAGREB, Sept 24 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader on Tuesday held several bilateral meetings in New York on Tuesday, including with Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic on the settlement of the border issue, the government said in a press release on Wednesday.
Sanader also held talks with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Icelandic PM Geir Haarde, and Qatari Emir Hamad Bin Kalif Al-Thani.Sanader and Vujanovic confirmed they were ready to develop bilateral relations on the principles of cooperation and respect for international law. They also discussed peace and security in Southeast Europe.
Vujanovic voiced readiness for a prompt implementation of Sanader's agreement with Montenegrin PM Milo Djukanovic on the settlement of the border issue before the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Croatia and Montenegro are interested in developing economic cooperation, the press release said, adding that Sanader confirmed Zagreb's support for Montenegro's Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
Sanader and Bachelet said Croatian-Chilean relations were good and friendly, also thanks to the large Croat community in Chile.
The two officials confirmed a wish to advance economic cooperation and intensify bilateral meetings. Sanader presented the potential of the northern Adriatic port of Rijeka as a gateway for the export of Chilean goods to Central and Southeast Europe.
Sanader and Haarde said Croatian-Icelandic cooperation in international organisations was good. Haarde accepted Sanader's invitation to visit Croatia early next year, and said that Iceland was expected to ratify the protocol on Croatia's accession to NATO by the end of the year.
Sanader and sheik Al-Thani discussed bilateral cooperation projects launched in 2004 when Croatian President Stjepan Mesic visited Qatar. Sanader informed the emir about the Croatian government's decision to build a liquefied natural gas terminal in Croatia.
Sanader also said that Zagreb was happy that Croatian companies were active in Qatar, and agreed with Al-Thani that advancing economic cooperation was in the mutual interest.
Sanader was in New York attending the UN General Assembly's autumn session.