On Thursday the President of Malta Dr. Edward Fenech Adami and his wife Mrs. Fenech Adami began a two-day state visit in Croatia, where they met President of Republic of Croatia Mr Stjepan Mesić and Mrs Mesić.
 The two Presidents confirmed that relations between the two countries are strong and that there is potential for further co-operation. The President of Croatia said that he was pleased to recall that Malta was amongst the first countries that had extended formal recognition to the independent Republic of Croatia.
President Stjepan Mesić thanked Malta for supporting Croatia’s bid to join the European Union. He said that the European Union is an opportunity for its member states to further develop and share their respective potentials. The Croatian President noted that Malta may take advantage of Croatian ports to have access to the markets of South-East Europe. In similar manner Croatia can have access to the markets of Northern Africa and the Middle East through Malta.
On his part, President Fenech Adami said that until 2004, Malta was concentrating on her own application to join the European Union. Croatia is spurred by similar motivations as Malta was to join the EU. The President confirmed Malta’s willingness to share with Croatia the experience it had gained from the negotiations process, though sometimes it may not be easy. He was convinced that Croatia would be successful in her negotiations.
Later during the morning, President Fenech Adami met the Speaker, Mr. Vladimir Ŝeks at his office in Parliament and with Cardinal Josip Bozanic, Archbishop of Zagreb. Mrs Fenech Adami joined the President on a visit to the old part of Zagreb, the Upper Town and the Kaptol.
The President Fenech Adami, President Mesić and Minister Michael Frendo, addressed an Economic Forum was organized by the Economic and Cultural Diplomacy Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in conjunction with the Zagreb Chamber of Commerce. An overview of the Maltese and Croatian economies was followed by one-to-one meetings on business opportunities in both countries.
The State visit will come to an end on Friday, with the Maltese President and Mrs. Fenech Adami returning to Malta later during the day.
Dr George Hyzler is the Acting President.
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