SA, Croatia strengthen relations
Richard Mantu
20 September 2004
Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad returned to South Africa on Saturday after concluding a two-day official visit to Croatia, where he held bilateral political and economic discussions with his counterpart, Hidajet Biscevic.
Pahad also met with Croatian Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul and business leaders.
According to Foreign Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa, Pahad briefed his counterpart on the operationalisation of the African Union's institutions, the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, and attempts by African leaders to create conditions for peace in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and the Ivory Coast.
"They also discussed economic and political integration in the European Union following its enlargement, the Middle East Peace Process and developments in Iraq, and the global fight against terrorism", Mamoepa said.
South Africa is home to an estimated 5 000 Croatians and South
Africans of Croatian descent.
Mamoepa said that both delegations expressed concern at the current level of trade between SA and Croatia, which they felt did not reflect the existing potential.
"Both sides undertook to do what was necessary to create the conditions for the existing opportunities in both countries to be explored", Mamoepa said.
Trade between South Africa and Croatia amounted to US$21-million in 2002, with South African exports amounting to $18.6-million, made up mainly of coal, iron ore, fruits and granite. Croatia's exports to South Africa stood at $22.4-million in the same year.
Source: BuaNews
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