Croatia has huge potential and the United States is optimistic about its future, the visiting U.S. State Secretary, Hillary Clinton, said at her meeting with Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic in Zagreb on Wednesday, when she also pointed out American companies' great interest in investing in Croatia, the Croatian government stated in a press release.
The U.S. Secretary of State congratulated the Croatian government for the steps it has taken to stabilise the budget.
She said that there was great interest by U.S. companies in investing in Croatia and that the U.S. side was willing to help Croatia with its experience to successfully remove barriers.
Milanovic and Clinton also discussed the forthcoming admission of Croatia to the European Union and the situation in the region. In this context, the premier underlined Croatia's support for its neighbours' Euro-Atlantic aspirations, according to the press release.
"It is Croatia's interest that its neighbours become a part of the European Union," he was quoted as saying. He depicted the EU as a byword for stability.
The two discussed the economic situation in Europe and worldwide and the reaction of the EU and the USA to the fragile global economic situation.
Milanovic thanked the United States for the assistance it has offered Croatia since it gained independence.
He also extended his condolences on the victims of Superstorm Sandy which hit the eastern coast of the USA earlier this week.
Present at the meeting was Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic, who will host a dinner for Mrs. Clinton later in the evening.
Mrs. Clinton was received by President Ivo Josipovic after her talks with Milanovic.
