Israel's President Shimon Peres and the visiting Croatian President Ivo Josipovic agreed on Monday that Israel and Croatia had similar historical experiences and would face similar challenges in the future, adding that it would be easier for them to meet those challenges if they strengthened their cooperation in the globalised world.
Josipovic arrived in Israel on Sunday, and on Monday a state reception was held for the Croatian delegation in the presidential residence in Jerusalem. After the ceremony and before their bilateral talks, the two presidents addressed the press.
Josipovic said that he was excited at possibilities offered to Croatia through cooperation with Israel "at such a high level".
I am sure that this visit is a great opportunity for ushering in a new stage in our relations and for broadening cooperation in different areas, such as economy, trade, education, research and development, security and defence as well as for strengthening our political dialogue, Josipovic said.
Peres said that he had fond memories of his visit to Croatia in July 2010.
I felt at home in a way because our two countries are not big in terms of territory or population but both have great and complicated histories, Peres said.
The past cannot be forgotten but we must work for the future, the Israeli president said, adding that he welcomed the transformation of Croatia towards a high-technology country.
You have both talent and people to make it, and it is an area in which we can wholeheartedly cooperate, he added.
We appreciate very much the friendship developed in recent years between our countries that are trying to live in a globalised world in which each country has to battle to retain its niche and ensure a future for its children, Peres said.
After the meeting with Peres, Josipovic is due to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. After a working lunch with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Josipovic will visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Centre where he will lay a wreath. Also on Monday, the Croatian delegation is due to visit the Mount Herzl National Cemetery.
Croatia's delegation includes Foreign and European Affairs Minister Vesna Pusic, who is due to meet with her Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman.
In the first 11 months of 2011, Croatia's imports from Israel totalled EUR 26.1 million while its exports to that country amounted to EUR 7.1 million.
