CROATIAN, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS DISCUSS BOOSTING COOPERATION
HINA news agency
Sept 7 2009
Zagreb, Croatia
Brijuni, 7 September: Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Monday
received his Armenian counterpart Serzh Azati Sargsyan at the
presidential residence on the northern Adriatic island of Brijuni.
After the talks, Mesic told the press he was pleased to be meeting
Sargsyan again so shortly after visiting Armenia, saying this testified
to the wish of both countries to open a new page in their relations.
"We reaffirmed the readiness and realization that we can cooperate to
mutual benefit, as such cooperation is very desirable in conditions
of global economic crisis. Cooperation can relieve the burden of the
recession that we are all feeling," said Mesic.
He added that he and Sargsyan also discussed regional issues, as
"there are unsolved issues in both regions that are acutely or
potentially burdening relations between states".
"There are no unsolvable problems, but we can make them unsolvable if
we haven’t the wisdom and the strength to form the political will to
solve them, if we run away from facing the past, regardless of what
it was like, and if we are afraid to accept compromise," Mesic said,
adding that otherwise, all difficulties were solvable.
He went on to say that openness and friendship would be the foundation
of Croatian-Armenian relations and that Sargsyan’s visit was an
important step towards reinforcing that foundation.
Sargsyan said Armenia attached great importance to the strengthening
and development of relations with Croatia, as well as with other
countries in the region, in politics, the economy and culture.
The destinies and pasts of the Armenian and Croatian peoples were
similar and the two countries are already creating the foundation of
a firm friendship and trust, he said, adding presidential visits had
created the foundation of Armenian-Croatian political dialogue.
Sargsyan said he and Mesic highlighted the need to deepen cooperation
also within international organizations, and that they also discussed
bilateral trade.