Zagreb, (IKA) – On Tuesday, June 6, the minister of foreign affairs and European integration, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, received the secretary for relations with states of the Holy See, Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, who is on an official visit to the Republic of Croatia.
In statements to journalists after the meeting, they emphasized the excellent bilateral relations that are constantly improving, the close cooperation between the Republic of Croatia and the Holy See, and how there are no open questions between the two states. The date of today’s visit is symbolic because it returns us to the 9th century when Pope John VIII recognized Prince Branimir as the legal ruler and Croatia as an independent state. Minister Grabar-Kitarović thanked Archbishop Lajolo for the support that the Holy See is offering the Republic of Croatia on the path to Euro-Atlantic integration. She acquainted the archbishop with the achievements thus far by the Republic of Croatia on this path, i.e. with the overall process of negotiations for accession to full membership in the European Union. She pointed out that one of the goals of the Republic of Croatia is to integrate all Croatian citizens in the Croatian society, with the preservation and protection of their identities, which is understood to mean respect for religious affiliation, together with the promotion of ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue.

Archbishop Lajolo emphasized the traditional friendship between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia, and stated that Pope Benedict XVI is continuing the policy of Pope John Paul II, who visited Croatia three times. He also expressed the Holy See’s support for the Republic of Croatia on the path to Euro-Atlantic integration. Furthermore, there was mutual expression of the desire for continued deepening of the bilateral relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Holy See, especially in culture, art and within the framework of the diplomatic academies.
During the afternoon hours, Archbishop Lajolo was received by the prime minister of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Ivo Sanader, and the president of the Republic of Croatia, Stjepan Mesić.