Josipovic: Croatia Important Factor of Europe's Energy Independence

Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, who is on a working visit to the United States to last several days, said on Monday that he would tell US business people in the energy sector that Croatia is a stable country with the prospect of becoming an important factor in Europe's energy independence.

Josipovic's visit to the USA, during which he will meet with US Vice President Joe Biden in Washington DC on Wednesday, after which he will visit Houston, Texas, is primarily dedicated to energy security and the energy projects Croatia has been developing.

"My message to politicians and oil business people here is that Croatia is a stable country, a country that has the knowledge and natural resources, as well as such a position on Europe's map that it can become one of the most important hubs of Europe's energy security," Josipovic told Croatian Television on the first day of the visit during which he was to meet with members of the Croatian American community. He expressed satisfaction with the government's documentation on possible oil and gas reserves in the Adriatic in which US companies have shown an interest.

He said that the Ukraine crisis had brought to the fore "Croatia's importance in the project of Europe's energy security".

"With its infrastructure - the LNG terminal, the oil pipeline and the gas pipeline - which is yet to be built, Croatia can be the factor ensuring Europe's energy independence from Russia and other countries," Josipovic said. Commenting in that context on the Croatian oil company INA, jointly owned by the Croatian government and the Hungarian oil and gas group MOL, he said that "regardless of its ownership structure it is a key Croatian company" which unfortunately had not been managed "the way we wanted it."

In an interview with the commercial broadcaster Nova TV, Josipovic said he hoped that the government, which is conducting negotiations with MOL on INA, would protect Croatia's interests but also have understanding for the justified interests of the other side.

In an article on energy which he wrote for The Financial Times in late April, Josipovic said that the recent screening of the Adriatic sea bed indicated that Croatia had considerable gas and oil reserves.

However, the cleanliness of the Adriatic is important for the tourist sector, which must be protected. That is why Croatia, while continuing to develop its energy reserves, must make sure that this is done in compliance with the highest ecological standards, Josipovic said in the article.

As for the economic policy, Josipovic said that he would discuss with US Vice President Biden an agreement on avoiding double taxation, adding that it would help increase the number of US investors in Croatia.

Currently, 101 representations of US companies operate in Croatia.

The visa regime will be another topic on the agenda, with Josipovic saying that he was an optimist in that regard.

"I believe that the visa regime could be lifted... the figures and the criteria which determine whether a country deserves or does not deserve the cancellation of visa requirements are on our side," Josipovic said.

Bosnia and Herzegovina will also be discussed by Josipovic and Biden. Not only the United States but Europe as well are interested in relations in the region, said the Croatian president.

During his stay in Washington DC, the Croatian president is also expected to meet members of the US Congress and representatives of several government and nongovernmental institutions.

According to a statement from Josipovic's office, it is possible that US President Barack Obama will join Josipovic and Biden at their meeting.

Josipovic will continue his visit in Houston, Texas, where he will attend an energy forum which is expected to bring together representatives of approximately 300 oil and gas companies. There, he is expected to talk about investments in energy projects in Croatia.

(dalje.com, May 13, 2014)