'Croatia can help two Koreas normalize relations'
Croatian Parliament Vice President Zeljko Reiner speaks with The Korea Times at Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul, on May 1. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
By Yi Whan-woo
The war in former Yugoslavia involving Croatians in the 1990s was an aggression that led to break-up of Yugoslavia into six sovereign states — Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Slovenia.
Since then, Croatia has normalized diplomatic relations with the all other neighboring states.
As a friend of both Koreas, Croatia could share its experience and help Seoul and Pyongyang restore their ties following the historic summit between their leaders on April 27, Croatian Parliaments Vice President Zeljko Reiner says.
“Croatia strongly supports the Republic of Korea but also North Korea on this path,” Reiner told The Korea Times at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, downtown Seoul.
“Croatia is also all ready to provide friendly assistance for better understanding and to create the conditions necessary for normalization of relations, particularly with our experience in re-establishing relations with other states after our Homeland War.”
His recent Korea trip followed National Assembly Deputy Speaker Park Joo-sun’s visit to Croatia in September 2017.
The Homeland War took place from 1991 to 1995, when Croats declared independence from Yugoslavia and fought against the Serb-controlled Yugoslav Peoples’ Army as well as Serbian forces inside Croatia.
Croatia established diplomatic relations with Seoul and Pyongyang in November 1992.
“We know that less than 30 years ago we had a severe, aggressive war,” he said. “We have experience in how to deal in reconciliation between two countries that fought.
“We’re ready to help with our experience because it’s for the benefit of both countries, but also for world peace.”
He said his Seoul visit helped bolster bilateral relations in a wide range of areas such as investment, trade, and tourism.
“It definitely was a step forward in establishing a closer relationship between our two friendly countries,” he said.
Reiner said he was impressed with South Korea’s development over the past several decades.
On investment, Reiner highlighted Rijeka, the country’s largest seaport bordering the Kvarner Gulf in the Adriatic Sea.
It is regarded as the “starting point for pan-European transport corridor,” for its location deep inside the European continent and for its transport links, particularly with central and eastern European countries.
According to Reiner, the port can shorten shipping routes from Asia by five to six days compared to northern European port cities such as Amsterdam and Hamburg.
The liquefied natural gas terminal on Krk, an island in the northern Adriatic Sea, is another key investment project.
It is aimed at securing and increasing the energy supply to Central and Southeastern Europe. Its benefits include environmentally-friendly energy and a reduction of CO2 emissions areas.
“So foreign investors, particularly Koreans, are more than welcome to join this very important project,” Reiner said.
He said South Korea and Croatia could work together in shipbuilding, stressing that they were “compatible with each other.”
He pointed out that South Korean shipbuilders specialized in large ships such as tankers while Croatian builders had a tradition of building “tailor-made” ships, such as yachts and cruisers.
“We have a centuries-long tradition in building smaller and middle-sized ships. This is compatible with Korean shipbuilding,” he said.
Reinter attributed the recent increase in South Korean tourists to Croatia to a travel-reality show, “Sisters over Flowers“, but also to Croatia’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.
The show was aired on cable TV tvN from 2013 to 2014. Many episodes were filmed in Croatia.
He said Croatia still has a lot more to offer, such as the renaissance town Dubrovnik, beautiful islands and the UNESCO-registered Plitvice Lakes National Park. He said his country hopes to attract up to 500,000 South Korean tourists this year.
His Seoul trip included a lecture at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies under the title, “Parliamentary Diplomacy in the Function of Foreign Policy Priorities of the Republic of Croatia.”