Croatia - President Josipović received Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj (HINA)

Croatia and Mongolia so far have not cooperated as much as they could and should have, but with our EU membership and Mongolia's orientation towards Europe, the two countries can be a reliable partner to each other, Croatian President Ivo Josipovic said after the talks with his Mongolian counterpart Tsakhia Elbegdorj.

"We are two distant countries, but Mongolia is conducting an interesting policy... which sees Europe as a partner. Croatia's new position creates new possibilities for cooperation between the two countries," President Josipovic said.

Mongolian President Elbegdorj expressed conviction that Croatia's future EU membership would most definitely create new possibilities for Mongolia. With EU membership, Croatia could represent a gateway for Mongolia and Mongolia could enable Croatia an entrance to the huge Chinese market, Elbegdorj said.

President Josipovic added he and Elbegdorj had talked about economic cooperation. The two heads of states agreed that apart from strengthening bilateral relations, Croatia and Mongolia also must strengthen systems based on European values. They said agriculture, mine industry as well as higher education were the areas of mutual interest. Croatia offered three scholarships to Mongolia.

Given that both countries which have their contingents in the NATO-led peace mission in Afghanistan, the talks also focused on cooperation in that area. Mongolia is interested in increasing peacekeeping capacity so as to strengthen global peace.

Mongolia wants to become a NATO partner country and it also applied for the status of an observer country in the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

On Thursday, the Mongolian president will hold talks with Croatian Parliament Speaker Luka Bebic and Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor. He expressed hope these talks would be useful as well.

Elbegdorj invited President Josipovic to visit Mongolia which former Croatian President Stjepan Mesic visited in 2008.

The two heads of state adopted a joint statement on the future bilateral cooperation.

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