Zagreb - Croatia and Iran are interested in deepening their cooperation in the economic sector, trade, culture, science, sport, agriculture and energy, and also intend to enhance their parliamentary cooperation, the parliament speakers of the two countries, Josip Leko and Ali Larijani, said in Zagreb on Thursday.
- We have agreed to expand and deepen our parliamentary cooperation, Leko told at press conference after the meeting with Larijani who had arrived for an official visit. He said that Iran was interested in expanding and deepening the cooperation in the areas of the economy, trade, culture, science, sport, agriculture and energy. - Iran and Croatia have historical ties, and Iran was among the first countries to recognise Croatia as an independent state and we have good cultural, economic and other cooperation ever since, Larijani said.
Larijani, the former chief Iranian nuclear negotiator, informed Leko about the situation in the Middle East and the nuclear energy issue. They agreed that dialogue between nations and states had no alternative and should continue. Dialogue is the best, safest and most successful policy, they said. Leko said that relations between Iran and Croatia were based on friendship and understanding, and that today's talks were very open and useful. He said he had been invited to visit Iran and had accepted the invitation with pleasure.
Larijani is due to visit the Zagreb Archdiocese, where he is to meet with the Archbishop, Cardinal Josip Bozanic, and the Zagreb Cathedral. Talks with Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic are also scheduled, and in the afternoon he is due to visit the Islamic Centre. On Friday he travels to Dubrovnik to meet with President Ivo Josipovic.