President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović will meet with Queen Elizabeth, UK Prime Minister May, and EU and NATO leaders.
One day after consultations on forming a new government on Monday, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović will arrive in an official visit to Great Britain where she will be received by Queen Elizabeth II, reports Jutarnji List on October 10, 2016.
“This is a very important visit because the President will also meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May, and three ministers. She will hold a lecture at the London School of Economics, and give interviews to BBC and Bloomberg”, announced the Office of the President. The emphasis during the visit of the President to London will be on economic cooperation. According to sources from the President’s Office, after leaving the EU, Croatia will remain a trusted ally in South Eastern Europe for the United Kingdom.
“The President is expected to discuss global issues with Queen Elizabeth II, while her meeting with Prime Minister May will probably be devoted to current issues in Europe and the world and the situation in the Southeast Europe”, said a source.
Immediately after London, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović will travel to Brussels where she will meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss strengthening of EU defense cooperation and the military alliance. They will also discuss security issues, combating terrorism and the situation in Syria and the Middle East. It is expected that the President will advocate for closer cooperation of NATO with the countries of South Eastern Europe and for further expansion of the military alliance.
In Brussels, the President will also meet with leaders of European institutions, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Parliament President Martin Schulz and European Council President Donald Tusk. Topics will include the current situation in Europe, the refugee crisis and EU enlargement.
President Grabar-Kitarović will reiterate to European officials her concern over events in neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina, primarily in the Republika Srpska, and will also discuss the enlargement of the European Union and negotiations with candidate countries from South Eastern Europe.
Immediately after the meeting with Tusk on Friday afternoon, the President will return to Croatia to attend the inaugural session of new Parliament.
