29 March 2011
Mrs Irena Degutienë, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Mr Ivo Josipoviã, President of the Republic of Croatia, during his working visit to Vilnius. The meeting focussed on Croatia’s progress in its EU accession negotiations, strengthening of bilateral economic relations between Croatia and Lithuania, and fight against corruption.
The President of Croatia underlined that the country under his leadership had reached the final stage of EU accession negotiations and expressed hopes that the negotiations will be completed this year. “I can assure you that Croatia will be a committed EU member state and I expect Lithuania’s support for the completion of preparations for Croatia’s accession to the European Union,” Mr Josipoviã noted.
Mrs Degutienë indicated that Lithuania had always consistently supported Croatia’s integration into the EU and extended her wishes for a successful completion of Croatia’s homework. “Lithuania is Croatia’s friend that has always supported and will continue to support your aspirations to join the family of the European Union. I am convinced that after the completion of your accession negotiations and after we receive respective documents, the process of ratification at the Seimas will be smooth,” Mrs Degutienë said.
The Speaker of the Seimas also urged Croatia to pay more attention to awareness-raising among Lithuanian businessmen about the possibilities to invest in Croatia and voiced her hopes that Croatia’s accession to the EU will contribute to the intensification of the bilateral economic ties.
The President of Croatia observed that his country had already drafted a list of investment projects and stressed his belief that negative past experience of Lithuania’s businessmen when investing in Croatia will not hinder successful cooperation in future. Mr Josipoviã argued that currently, Croatia is putting every effort to fight corruption that was largely a major obstacle for foreign investors in the past.
Secretariat of the Speaker of the Seimas
Juozas Ruzgys, Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6023, 698 42073
