ZAGREB, Sept 11, 2020 - German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier supports the policy of reconciliation in Croatia pursued by Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, it was said after their meeting in Berlin on Friday. 

In his first months as head of state, President Milanovic took important steps in the process of reconciliation with the Serbs and the Serb minority in Croatia, and we are grateful to him for that, Steinmeier said.

The German president said he supported his Croatian counterpart on this brave path. This path launched by Croatia will hopefully be an inspiration for others to build bridges, he added.

The Croatian president began his two-day official visit on Thursday by meeting with representatives of Croatian associations in Germany.

Milanovic thanked his host for inviting him and for supporting him on the path of reconciliation in the region. 

I have been pursuing the policy of reconciliation for twenty years and I believe for the first time that we have interlocutors for such policy in Croatia, Milanovic said, adding that he would continue this policy in the future.

Successful Croatian presidency of the EU

The two presidents also discussed the strengthening and functioning of the European Union in the present circumstances of the coronavirus crisis.

With the aid package adopted in June, the EU demonstrated solidarity that is not even remotely possible elsewhere in the world, Steinmeier said.

He praised Croatia for a job well done during its presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of the year.

Strengthening the EU is the most important task and Croatia managed to do that with its presidency under very difficult circumstances. Now it is up to us to continue this work until the end of this year, the German president said.

One of the topics discussed was the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, and the Croatian president expressed hope that the epidemiological situation in Croatia after the summer tourist season would calm down.

I hope the Croatian counties included on the German red list will disappear from that list, Milanovic said.

Excellent bilateral relations

Both presidents said that relations between Germany and Croatia were excellent.

Germany's policy towards Croatia has always been predictable in a positive sense, meaning reliable, Milanovic said.

The two presidents also highlighted efforts in providing humanitarian aid to migrants who have been left without a roof over their heads following a fire in the Moria refugee camp in Greece.

I have heard that the Croatian government has decided to take in a certain number of displaced persons, which I consider a nice and humane gesture and I support it, Milanovic said.

Steinmeier denied claims that the EU's common policy on migrants had collapsed.

During its EU presidency, Germany will work with the European Commission on promoting the common refugee policy, he said.

Milanovic was the first statesman to be received with military honors after a months-long pause caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

During the day, the Croatian president is scheduled to meet with Wolfgang Schauble, Speaker of the Bundestag. He will end his two-day visit by meeting with Mario Ohoven, head of the German association of small and medium-sized enterprises (BVMW).

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Split mayor Andro Krstulović Opara shared his impressions after meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, reports,  Dalmatinski Portal on March 22, 2019. 

“In the first part of the meeting, we spoke about the politics and the position of Split, as well as Split’s policy concerning our neighbor Bosnia and Herzegovina, about Split's future, the obligations of Croatia and the EU so that it becomes a truly equal member,” said the mayor.

The mayor claimed that Steinmeier was especially interested in the transformation of Split and the city’s efforts in developing the creative industry and the Technology Park, as well as the social aspects. 

“I’m glad they accepted our proposal and truly visited our exceptional example of social sensitivity in which we include not only homeless people but also those who need to be helped. They exceptional people in MoSt showed that,” said Krstulović Opara.

MoSt chairwoman Đordana Barbarić spoke with the  Steinmeier about working with homeless people and young people with behavioral problems.

"These topics are very close to him, he posed very specific questions to us, and we could see that he knows everything very well. He spoke with four homeless people, with volunteers and colleagues from the association. We presented our 20 years of work. He couldn’t believe that not a day goes by that no one calls and asks what we need, that people cook for the homeless people, and that young people volunteer in the association,” Barbarić said.

In the second part of the meeting, the mayor said they visited the city and cultural values.

"What a city is, is a lively place that has the specialties that make it well-known," the mayor concluded, revealing that the president and his wife said they could hardly wait to visit Split unofficially.

To recall, the German president chose Split on his two-day visit to Croatia. The day began with breakfast at the Park Hotel with mayor Andro Krstulović Opara and Split-Dalmatia County prefect Blaženko Boban. The president then met with the MoSt Association for the homeless. 

After his visit to MoSt, the president visited the Split Synagogue which is over 500 years old. There, he spoke with Ana Leibl and members of the Jewish community. The president met the culture of Split in the Meštrović Gallery, after which he met with members of the Island Movement before heading back to Germany. 

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

The German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is paying an official two-day visit to the Republic of Croatia from Germany today, the plans include for him to pay a visit to the German and French international school "Eurocampus" and get a taste for the incredible creations of Croatia's most well known entrepreneur, Mate Rimac.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 21st of March, 2019, upon the invitation of Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, the official visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany will begin with a ceremony at the Presidential Office, a friendly tête-à-tête meeting between the two presidents and a bilateral meeting of the official delegations of the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Germany.

After meeting with President Grabar-Kitarović, President Steinmeier will meet with Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković and go to Zagreb's beautiful Mirogoj cemetary, where he will place a wreath in front of the monument entitled ''Glas hrvatske žrtve - Zid boli'' (The voice of Croatian victims - The wall of pain).

As mentioned, between or after having met with the necessary persons who make up essential parts of the Croatian Government and the Croatian president herself, Germany's Steinmeier will visit the German and French international "Eurocampus" school, as well as the one and only Rimac Automobili which is located in Sveta Nedelja, not too far from the capital city of Zagreb.

Mate Rimac is the undoubtedly the face of modern day Croatian entrepreneurship, echoing the memory of Nikola Tesla from many moons ago. Mate Rimac's Rimac Automobili company was founded back in 2009 with its headquarters located in Sveta Nedelja in Zagreb County, where it remains to this day. The German President's visit to the company's headquarters will continue to send out the message that despite all - you definitely can make it work in Croatia.

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