Croatian PM and US State Secretary discuss bilateral cooperation, COVID-19 fight

ZAGREB, May 19 (Hina) – Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and US State Secretary Mike Pompeo on Monday held a telephone conversation on the struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic and on the Croatia-USA bilateral cooperation, the Croatian government stated on Monday evening.

During the talks, initiated by the US State Secretary, the two interlocutors exchanged the opinions and latest data on the developments surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

They agreed that a priority should be given to the development of a COVID-19 vaccine and medicines.

Plenkovic extended condolences to Pompeo on a high number of victims of this disease in the USA and expressed hope that patients diagnosed with the infection would soon recover.

Pompeo congratulated Plenkovic on the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and on the Zagreb Summit held as a video conference in early May.

They also exchanged positions on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the premier underscored that the Croat people in that country supported the integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Euro-Atlantic institutions.

He underlined that Croatia supported all the reform processes which include the equality of all the three constituent people.

Also, the Visa Waiver Program for the Croatians and the conclusion of a US-Croatia agreement on double taxation avoidance were the topics of the Plenkovic-Pompeo talks.

The US State Secretary tweeted on his account that he was “pleased to work with such a close Ally on COVID-19 and defense cooperation. Croatia has done a great job holding the EU Presidency during a difficult time. Together, we will overcome our shared challenges.”

“Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke today with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. Secretary Pompeo and Prime Minister Plenkovic discussed the importance of Transatlantic cooperation in combatting COVID-19 and ways to strengthen our close bilateral defense cooperation. The Secretary congratulated Croatia on its effective Presidency of the Council of the EU, including its welcomed focus on Western Balkan EU integration,” a statement from Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus read.