Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and Russian PM Vladimir Putin were agreed in Moscow on Saturday that economic relations between the two countries had improved since their last meeting in March, but that there remained problems about which they would continue to talk.
Good things have happened during this period. Trade, which dropped 50 per cent because of the crisis, has increased. I'm pleased to see you again and we have a chance to talk about the problems we discussed during your last visit, Putin told Kosor.
The implementation of energy projects Druzba Adria and South Stream and obstacles Russian investors encounter in Croatia were issues raised during Kosor's visit to Moscow in March. Russian officials insist on the removal of administrative obstacles to Russian investors.
Also present at today's talks were Croatia's Finance Minister Ivan Suker and Economy Minister Djuro Popijac as well as Russian Emergency Situations Minister Sergey Shoigu.
Speaking to press afterwards, Kosor said the Croatian parliament would ratify an agreement on South Stream in the coming days and that Croatia's Plinacro and Russia's Gazprom companies could wrap up by the end of the year a feasibility study for this project, which would transport Russian gas to Croatia.
Intensive talks on the Druzba Adria pipeline are continuing, she said but would not go into detail. "I think we have reached agreement on this, since the ministry in charge is saying that all environmental obstacles of recent years have been eliminated."
Kosor said that she and Putin discussed Druzba Adria "very positively and very much in principle," namely what a final agreement would give each country "in the interest of us all."
She said Russian investment on the islands of Mljet and Krk was not discussed, but that she had information that the "Mljet case" would be resolved "in light of the latest developments regarding changes to the (spatial) plan."
Kosor and Putin also discussed tourism cooperation, which is expected to improve thanks to the revocation of visas for Russians from April to October. Kosor was hopeful that this year's decline in Russian arrivals would be lower than the 25 per cent reported last year. Putin said he expected the Croatian economy to feel the benefits of their arrival on the Croatian coast.
Kosor invited Putin to attend Croatia Summit in Dubrovnik next month, but he could not confirm, although he said he would come to Croatia. The summit will draw premiers from the region as well as the premiers of Italy and France.
Kosor is due to return to Zagreb on Sunday afternoon.
