US President Begins Talks With Croatian Premier

Text of report in English by Croatian state news agency HINA

ZAGREB, April 5 (Hina) – US President George W. Bush began the second day of his visit to Croatia with a meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader at government headquarters in Zagreb on Saturday [5 April] morning.

After the meeting, Bush and Sanader are due to briefly speak to the press, after which the US President is scheduled to address citizens in historic St Mark’s Square, near the government offices.

Shortly after arriving on Friday, President Bush, accompanied by his wife Laura and a delegation including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, met with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic.

The Croatian President hosted a formal dinner in honour of his American guests, which was also attended by some 60 prominent figures from Croatian political, business, academic, sports, cultural and religious life.

Friday’s talks, which lasted nearly an hour, were devoted to the promotion of bilateral relations, the situation in the region and NATO, the Croatian President’s Office said.

At the end of his visit, President Bush will hold talks with the presidents and prime ministers of the Adriatic Charter member states Croatia, Albania and Macedonia.

Croatia and Albania were extended membership invitations at NATO’s Bucharest summit to join the alliance, while Macedonia’s invitation was vetoed by Greece over the former Yugoslav republic’s name.

Originally published by HINA news agency, Zagreb, in English 0745 5 Apr 08.

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