Relations between Croatia and Macedonia are at an enviable level, without any outstanding issues, and Croatia fully supports Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration ambitions, Croatian President Ivo Josipovic said after talks with his Macedonian counterpart Gjorge Ivanov.
"Croatia supports Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic ambitions and hopes that the dispute between Macedonia and Greece over the name of Macedonia and its national identity will be resolved to mutual satisfaction," President Josipovic said at a joint press conference.
Among the topics discussed was the status of the Croatian minority in Macedonia and the Macedonian minority in Croatia. President Josipovic said that they concluded that the treatment of the two communities was appropriate and that both countries supported the national identity of the minority communities.
The two presidents also discussed cooperation in different areas, calling for closer ties and for the removal of minor obstacles to economic cooperation.
"The economies of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Macedonia are complementary, and with the development of bilateral cooperation there is a good chance of joint ventures on third markets," President Josipovic said.
Ivanov said that the talks between the two delegations were open and frank, and he congratulated Croatia on completing its negotiations on accession to the European Union.
"Macedonia is happy that Croatia completed its negotiations because Croatia's experience will also benefit Macedonia and the entire region," Ivanov said, thanking Croatia for supporting his country's efforts to join NATO and the EU.
Ivanov said that they also discussed the need to create new infrastructure to use all the economic potential of the countries in the region. He added that both countries were interested in the continuation of the Adriatic-Ionian initiative, of which Macedonia would like to become a full member.
Before the meeting of the two presidents, Croatian Justice Minister Drazen Bosnjakovic and Macedonian Justice Minister Blerim Bexheti signed a bilateral extradition agreement, which Bexheti described as yet another contribution to the stability of the entire region.