Macedonia and Croatia have exceptionally good political cooperation, accompanied by friendship between the two nations. This cooperation has a positive effect on economic relations, but there is still room for improvement in this field, assessed countries' Prime Ministers Nikola Gruevski and Jadranka Kosor after Tuesday's meeting in Skopje.

PM Kosor stressed Croatia's support to Macedonia's European aspirations.

"Croatia is a NATO member. We are nearing the end of the EU accession negotiations. Croatia will continue to provide firm and concrete support on Macedonia's path towards Union membership. As you know, the negotiations on Croatia's EU membership were recently unblocked, which is an excellent sign of encouragement, support to all SEE countries that tend to tread this path", stated Kosor.

Gruevski said that Macedonia would use Croatia's experiences in this regard.

Interlocutors also referred to the possibilities for enhancement of bilateral economic cooperation through the established cooperation team. PM Gruevski claimed that excellent bilateral relations could represent the foundation for strengthening of economic collaboration.

"Croatian businessmen are welcome in Macedonia. We have announcements on investments of Croatian companies, whereas many already own shares in Macedonian companies", added PM Gruevski.

The two PMs also focused on the global economic crisis, its effects on countries, as well as possibilities for their overcoming.

"The global crisis has also been reflected in this region and our countries. We referred to the consequences, but also measures and expectations in 2010, which are more optimistic than the ones this year", underlined Gruevski.

Furthermore, Kosor and Gruevski tackled the situation of the Macedonian minority in Croatia and vice versa, assessing that both countries demonstrate excellent care for minorities.

Croatian PM Kosor also met with Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski. She is scheduled to meet later today with President Gjorge Ivanov and address the Macedonian-Croatian Business Club meeting. Moreover, Kosor and Gruevski will plant trees in front of hall "Boris Trajkovski" on occasion of campaign "Tree Day-Plant Your Future".