“Croatia is a traditional partner for us, our relations are excellent. Last year, the volume of trade exceeded one billion euros for the first time, and trade between the two countries is growing this year as well. The annual trips of hundreds of thousands of Czech citizens to Croatia strengthen our closeness,” Minister Lipavský said after the meeting with his Croatian counterpart Gordan Grlić Radman.

Among other topics, the ministers also discussed current European and international issues, including the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. The head of the Czech diplomacy praised the assistance that Croatia is providing to Ukraine, whether it is humanitarian and military supplies, the export of Ukrainian grain through Croatian ports, and the recent organisation of a conference on demining in Ukraine. “We agree with Croatia that the new dynamics of the EU enlargement process should be used to revive the accession process of the Western Balkan countries,” Lipavský explained.

The Minister also met with the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Gordan Jandroković, with whom he discussed Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and preparations for the upcoming Parliamentary Summit of the Crimean Platform in Prague. Lipavský also thanked Jandroković for his support of the Czech minority.

It was with representatives of Czech compatriots that the Foreign Minister met in Daruvar, Croatia, where he visited the Czech J. A. Komenský Primary School and the Ferda Mravenec Kindergarten. Lipavský then held discussions with representatives of the Czech minority and representatives of the Bjelovar-Bilogor county and the town of Daruvar at the local Czech House. “The Czech community is extremely important to us, it is one of the best organised Czech communities abroad. It involves maintaining not only the language, but also traditions and customs and so we will continue to support it,” said the head of Czech diplomacy after the meeting.

Minister Lipavský also personally paid tribute to the Croatian sacrifices of the fight for independence and the Czech legionary Augustin Kmošek.

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