Bilateral Relations: France, Croatia sign historic strategic cooperation agreement

FOCUS Information Agency - Croatia became the first non European Union country to sign a strategic cooperation agreement with France on Friday, Xinhua News Agency informed.

Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and visiting French Prime Minister Francois Fillon signed the agreement on Friday in the Croatian capital Zagreb. This was also the first official visit to Croatia by a French prime minister.

Along with political and economic cooperation, the two leaders also reportedly discussed the prospects for expanding French language instruction in Croatia and for providing Croatian students with the opportunity to study in France.

Fillon stated that the successful manner in which the recent Croatian-Slovenian border arbitration agreement had been reached was an example of the European manner of settling conflicts.

"We have always supported Croatia which belongs to Europe and has participated in the building of the European civilization," he said, adding that Croatian membership in the EU would send a positive message to other countries in the West Balkans region.

"We thank France for the support it gives to Croatia in its European Union membership bid," said Kosor.

Kosor also added that Croatia was interested in French investment in her country.