Turkey and Croatia agree to improve dialogue

"We had the chance of discussing all aspects of our bilateral relations during the meeting. We also assessed regional and international developments," President Gul told at the joint conference held after the sides signed a "Memorandum of Understanding between Turkish and Croatian Exports and Investment Agencies" and a "Cooperation Agreement between Turkish and Croatian State Archives", the Anatolian Agency reported.

"We attach great importance to our cooperation with Croatia in efforts to secure peace, stability and prosperity in southeastern Europe. We agreed to make more contributions to efforts to secure a lasting stability in southeastern Europe, and to further improve our dialogue," he said, adding he believed that his visit would yield fruitful consequences.

Mesic said Croatia was thankful to Turkey for its support to Croatia's independence and its membership to NATO, and emphasized the importance of strengthening economic and commercial relations and cooperating in the fight against international crimes, the agency reported.

President Mesic added the good relations between Turkey and Croatia made valuable contributions to stability in southeastern Europe.

Gul said countries, which had sizable populations and large economies, naturally experienced a difficult accession process to the EU, and sometimes political issues could be exploited within the process.

Mesic said Turkey was a part of Europe and it was a country which would take a place within Europe, adding the continuation of meetings between the two parties in Cyprus would help achieve a positive outcome in the Cyprus issue.Â

The EU opened entry talks with Turkey in 2005, but there has been little progress amid disagreements over Cyprus and opposition from France and other EU countries, including Austria and Germany. The bloc also suspended negotiations in eight policy chapters because of Turkey's refusal to open its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels.

The free trade agreement between the two countries increased commerce figures, but not to satisfying levels yet, Gul also said.

He said Turkey and Croatia could undertake joint projects in the tourism and hotel sectors, adding the energy field could also be another sector of cooperation.

Gul said major Turkish companies were willing to invest in Croatia, while Mesic said the two countries could cooperate in military ship construction.

The Turkish president later on Wednesday separately met speaker of Croatian Parliament Luka Bebic and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader in Zagreb.

Following the meetings, also attended by Turkish State Minister Mehmet Aydin, Gul attended a luncheon hosted in his honor.

Photo: AP