BRATISLAVA, September 26, (WEBNOVINY) — Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova has invited Croatians to Slovakia during her official visit to Zagreb on Monday. “Slovakia offers spas, magnificent mountains and lakes and a beautiful soul. Slovakia welcomes every tourist,” said Radicova at a press briefing after the meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor. Radicova opines that the Slovak government needs to take necessary steps to promote Slovakia and boost its travel and tourism industry to “attract tourists to quality services and attractive free-time activities.” The Economy Ministry and Ministry of Transport, Regional Development and Tourism are therefore preparing a complex program that will support tourism. “We need to show that beautiful mountains are not only in Slovenia but also in Slovakia,” said Radicova. She also pointed out that 320,000 Slovaks visited Croatia in seven months of this year, which is one-tenth more than in the same period of last year.
The Slovak Prime Minster promised Croatians that Slovakia will be among the first to ratify the Treaty of Accession of Croatia to the European Union. Kosor thanked Radicova for the support that Slovakia has offered Croatia in the accession process. Radicova underscored that EU membership benefits citizens of every member state. “You are facing a difficult task – a referendum. I wish your citizens to understand the advantages of being a member of the European Union,” she said and added that Slovakia can assist Croatia in its pre-referendum campaign via non-governmental organizations that will explain pros and cons of the EU membership. She also emphasized that Croatia has undergone the accession process at rather difficult time for the European Union. “Joining a family that is experiencing serious problems is a deliberate step,” she observed.
Kosor said that economic cooperation between Slovakia and Croatia is gaining momentum. Goods exchange has increased by 14 percent this year. Export from Croatia to Slovakia went up 30 percent and Slovakia exported 6 percent more goods to Croatia. Croatian Prime Minister also mentioned country’s port in Rijeka that Slovakia can use. Croatia has directed substantial investments in the port in recent years. Radicova announced that the interstate agreement between the two countries on the use of natural gas storage capacity is being prepared. “That is a specific step towards energy security of both countries,” she said.
Slovak Prime Minister also appreciated Croatia’s good treatment of Slovak minority comprising some 4,700 Slovaks adding that Croatia’s minority also has a good base in Slovakia.
Radicova also met with Croatian President Ivo Josipovic and Speaker of Parliament Luka Bebic on Monday. They addressed bilateral Slovak-Croatian relations, Croatia’s entry in the EU, current European issues and economic developmenn Europe and around the world. Radicova met as well compatriots at the Slovak Embassy in Zagreb.
SITA