Relations with neighbouring states |
Numerous meetings testify to the co-operation achieved
Further promotion and strengthening of co-operation, based on the protocols on co-operation in the field of European integration with countries in the region, took the form of technical assistance for the alignment of legislation and implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, as well as the exchange of information and experience connected with the preparation and organisation of answers to the questionnaire of the European Commission and co-ordination of European affairs. Technical assistance includes attendance at seminars, workshops, conferences and bilateral consultations, and study visits by colleagues from countries in the region.
In November, as part of the “Parliament for Europe” project, a lecture was held about the harmonisation of legislation and implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, at an invitation of the Special EU Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Furthermore, at the Ministry of Integration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, consultations were carried out in relation to the
drafting of answers to the questionnaire of the European Commission. In December, upon the invitation of the Office for Legislation of the Republic of Macedonia, Croatia presented its experiences in the process of harmonisation of legislation with the acquis communautaire.
Development of bilateral relations with all neighbouring states and countries in the region targeted several key areas, such as the common strategic interest and support for equal participation in Euro-Atlantic integration; maintaining stability in the region and developing good neighbourly relations; improving economic co-operation; strengthening regional co-operation and constructive resolution of open issues. Good co-operation at the political level, achieved through regular political dialogue and bilateral meetings, is a precondition for the achievement of the afore stated objectives.
Croatia's and Albania's simultaneous admission to NATO in April 2009 served as a symbolic confirmation of the achievements and contribution of the two countries to regional stability. Political dialogue was intensive in the first half of the year, before the Albanian election, when several top-level visits were realised. President Bamir Topi, the Speaker of the Parliament Jozefina Topalli and Prime Minister Sali Berisha visited Croatia. Croatia's commodity exchange with Albania traditionally generates a surplus, and the total
commodity exchange with Albania in 2009 amounted to EUR 28.8 million. Croatian exports to Albania reached EUR 26.6 million, whereas imports amounted to EUR 2.1 million.
The official visit of Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor to Bosnia and Herzegovina in November was a confirmation of the importance of Croatia's relations with neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the year a large number of working meetings were held between the highest ranking Croatian and Bosnia-Herzegovina officials. Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj visited Croatia officially at the beginning of the year. In October, the two ministries of foreign affairs carried out regular political consultations in Sarajevo to review all open issues and new initiatives in bilateral relations. In the context of the process of Euro-Atlantic integration, in December the Croatian Government decided to make available the translations of the acquis communautaire to the countries involved in the Stabilisation and Association Process and to candidate countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croatia also advocated the granting of the Action Plan
for Membership in NATO to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Along with assistance in the Euro-Atlantic integration process, Croatia provided expert assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the process of lobbying and preparing for non-permanent membership in the Security Council. Co-operation on donor assistance programmes of the Government of the Republic of Croatia to Croats living in that country continued. The Republic of Croatia is Bosnia and Herzegovina's most significant import and export trade partner. In the midst of the economic crisis in 2009 commodity exchange between the two countries dropped by 32% but Croatia generated a commodity exchange surplus of EUR 560 million. Direct investments of the Republic of Croatia into Bosnia and Herzegovina amounted to EUR 45 million. Croatia was the partner country at the 12th International Economic Fair in Mostar, held from 31 March to 4 April.
Relations with Montenegro developed well and were marked by the readiness of both countries to resolve outstanding issues, such as the final demarcation of the interstate border and protection of minority rights. The Agreement on the Protection of Minorities was ratified by the Croatian Parliament in October, and is expected to be ratified soon by the Parliament of Montenegro. An interstate Croatia-Montenegro commission co-chaired by the foreign ministers of the two countries
met in January to hold negotiations concerning the sea border. The Commission is in charge of drafting a special agreement on the submission of the dispute before the International Tribunal in The Hague. Visits by high-ranking officials of the two countries continued, and so did consultations at lower and expert levels. The President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Ranko Krivokapić, and the President of Montenegro, Filip Vujanović visited Croatia in October and December respectively. Several bilateral agreements were also signed. Commodity exchange between the two countries rose by 17% compared to 2008.
As part of the development of relations with Kosovo, in 2009 Croatia was very active in providing support and offering advanced training for Kosovo state administration officers in various fields, especially regarding institution building and the transfer of experience from the EU accession process. Croatia made an effort to find a way of involving Kosovo in regional initiatives, considering that paramount for the further development, stability and security of the entire region. With a view to expanding economic co-operation, Croatia and Kosovo signed three interstate agreements. The total commodity exchange was EUR 55.8 million. Numerous Croatian companies traded with Kosovo, and the best results were achieved in the field of information technology.
The year 2009 saw the highest number of mutual visits by the highest-ranking officials of the Republic of Croatia and Macedonia since the independence of both countries. President Stjepan Mesić visited Macedonia on two occasions, and President Gjorge Ivanov chose Croatia for his first foreign visit after his inauguration. The President of the Assembly Trajko Veljanoski also visited Croatia, and Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor visited Skopje. Co-operation of the committees for European integration of the two parliaments was particularly intensive, and visits to Skopje and Zagreb at the level of ministers were numerous. As the Croatian minority in Macedonia has not been recognised in the Macedonian Constitution, the minority issue is a priority in bilateral co-operation. In 2009, the Joint Committee for the Implementation of the Agreement on the Protection of Minority Rights began working. Total commodity exchange amounted to EUR 215 million, dropping by 25% in relation to 2008 as a result of the global economic crisis.
Throughout 2009, political relations between Croatia and Serbia were again clouded by the Republic of Croatia's recognition of the Republic of Kosovo. The quality of relations was also adversely affected by Serbia's interpretation of the Republic of Croatia's standpoint before the International Court of Justice on 7 December on the conformity of the declaration of independence of Kosovo with international law and
by the announcement of Serbia's counter-claim against the Republic of Croatia for genocide before the International Tribunal in The Hague. In the spirit of supporting constructive relations, Croatia continued to support Serbia's European perspective. During the March visit of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader to Serbia, the Protocol on Co-operation in the European Integration Process was signed. In late 2009, the Government of the Republic of Croatia decided to permanently suspend the visa regime with the Republic of Serbia. In 2009, there was a notable increase in co-operation between state institutions, especially in the field of internal relations, the judiciary, culture, as well as continually good co-operation in the field of the economy. Seven interstate agreements were signed concerning police co-operation, re-admission and economic co-operation. As for economic co-operation, commodity exchange amounted to EUR 602 million (which is 27% less as the result of the economic crisis), where EUR 400 million accounted for Croatian exports to Serbia. Direct Croatian investments into Serbia, as opposed to previous years, were significantly reduced and amounted to EUR 25.6 million. In 2009, 88794 tourists from Serbia visited Croatia with 440,738 overnight stays in Croatia which is an increase by 14% in relation to 2008.
The mixed commission in charge of returning cultural heritage taken from the Republic of Croatia during the Homeland War worked on
resolving several open issues. Co-operation of the commissions in charge of missing and detained persons also continued. A meeting of the Intergovernmental Mixed Committee for Monitoring the Rights of Minorities was held after more than three years. In late 2009, the first preparatory meeting for the regional ministerial conference on refugees was held, and new meetings were announced with a view to making the best possible preparations for the conference.
Bilateral relations with the Republic of Turkey are very good in all areas - political, parliamentary, defence, security and parliamentary, with good prospects for their further promotion in the economic sector. During the February visit of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader to Ankara, six bilateral agreements were signed. The Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu visited Zagreb in December. Political consultations were also held at the level of state secretaries and directors, as well as consultations with the Minister for European affairs and the Chief negotiator of the Republic of Turkey Egemen Bagis in Zagreb. In 2009, the total bilateral commodity exchange between Croatia and Turkey dropped by more than 20% as expected but Croatian exports rose by almost 60%. As part of the official visit of the Croatian Prime Minister to Istanbul, a business forum was held and attended by more than 40 Croatian and 60 Turkish companies. The Memorandum of Co-operation by the sea ports of Antalya and Zadar
was signed. In June, the sixth session of the Mixed Commission for Road Transport was held in Istanbul. In November, Zagreb was the host of the second session of the Joint Croatian-Turkish Free Trade Committee, during which the Croatian side proposed further liberalisation of trade with agricultural products.
While the political relations between the Republic of Croatia and Moldova are friendly, economic relations are currently modest.
Regional multilateral co-operation