Zagreb - Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković on Friday reaffirmed Zagreb's support for Kosovo's aspirations to join Euro-Atlantic organisations during his meeting with visiting Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
Jandroković reiterated Croatia's unwavering support for Kosovo's membership aspirations, underscoring that such integration is a vital step toward ensuring the country's security and fostering stability across the region.
Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, currently holds potential candidate status for EU membership. While 22 EU member states have recognised it, five - Spain, Cyprus, Slovakia, Romania, and Greece - have not.
Bilateral relations between Croatia and Kosovo were described as highly developed and friendly. Jandroković called for strengthening parliamentary collaboration between the two countries.
He also highlighted the long-standing presence of the Croatian community in Kosovo, which has existed there for over seven centuries. Jandroković urged Kosovo's institutions to step up their efforts in safeguarding the social, political, and legal rights of Croats living in Kosovo.
Addressing the status of the Albanian national minority in Croatia, Jandroković noted that their rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and that they receive consistent support from both state and local institutions for their projects.
Both Jandroković and Kurti expressed satisfaction with a significant growth in trade between the two countries, agreeing that there is ample opportunity to further enhance cooperation.
The Economic Forum held in Zagreb on Friday was highlighted as a pivotal platform for strengthening overall economic ties and fostering connections between the business sectors of Croatia and Kosovo.