Dialogue is the only route towards developing relations between Russia and the West, and it is time to normalise relations between the two based on international law and mutual respect, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović said on Wednesday.
“If you treat someone like an adversary, they will soon start behaving like one,“ Grabar-Kitarović told a news conference after meeting with President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, on a one-day visit to Sofia.
Croatia joined a number of western countries who expelled Russian diplomats over the poisoning of the former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the British town of Salisbury, for which the UK blamed Moscow. Russia responded by expelling western diplomats in turn.
“In ordert to solve any disputes or issues, they need to be discussed. I see Russia as a strong country, a world power must be included in discussions on these disputes, but also many other issues,” said Grabar-Kitarović, and mentioned issues of international security, terrorism, radicalisation, and other threats facing the two blocs.
She added that an important part of the relations with Russia are also economic interests and that she will always support opening new markets for the Croatian economy.
“We have a series of (bilateral) issues we are currently working on, from Agrokor – so, the issue of Russian banks – to the matter of air pollution in Slavonski Brod. And I will absolutely insist on continuing talks on these topics,” Grabar-Kitarović said, and added she believed Russia would also be prepared to take part in further dialogue.
“Russia is certainly a key player in southeast Europe,” she added, saying that Russia is one of the countries responsible for peace implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“It is time for us to move towards normalisation of relations based on respecting all principles of the international law and mutual respect, but always taking into account the future security of the European continent and international relations in general,” Grabar-Kitarović told reporters.
