It is necessary to maintain good relations with the United States, the biggest global power and an ally of Croatia, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, who was attending the UN General Assembly in New York, told the HRT national broadcaster on Wednesday.

The Croatian president underscored that she had very good relations with U.S. president Donald Trump.

“It is absolutely necessary to maintain good relations with the USA. It is the biggest global power, let us face it, that country is our biggest ally, a friend of us,” Grabar-Kitarovic said.

“Of course, we a member-state of the European Union, and we are also a member state of NATO. Besides, I want to do for Croatia all what is important, not only the conclusion of the double tax avoidance treaty of visa waiver programme,” she aid in the interview she gave to the Croatian Television correspondent.in the USA.

During her participation in the UN General Assembly, Grabar-Kitarovic had a brief meeting with Trump in New York on Tuesday evening.

The correspondent commented that it seems to her that the Croatian president has established good relations with Trump, despite the fact that the U.S president is perceived as a polarizing person and that the relations between the EU and Washington have gone cold.

“I have opted for that path of interest of Croatia, the Croatian people, Croatian citizens and the Croatian community in the USA. It is legitimate, first of all to defend national interests,” Grabar-Kitarovic responded to the comment.

She also said that Trump “really likes Europe, particularly central Europe. He knows our region very well.”

The first stop of Grabar-Kitarovic’s tour of the USA was Cleveland, Ohio, last Thursday. Last Saturday, she visited a sizeable Croatian community in Pittsburgh.

Since Monday, she has been in New York where she held a speech to the General Assembly on Tuesday.

Grabar-Kitarovic expressed satisfaction with her diplomatic activities in New York and described them very intensive.