DIPLOMAT HOPEFUL OF BETTER CROATIA-MALAYSIA ECONOMIC TIES

By R. Ravichandran

(Correcting name in graf 2, shd read Nobilo..)
KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- Despite enjoying good political relations
for many years, this positive element has not been translated into better
economic ties between Croatia and Malaysia.

"Both countries are aware that they haven't completely exploited all the
potentials arising from our good political relations, especially (in the field
of) economy, " said Dr Mario Nobilo, who is State Secretary for Political
Affairs at the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.

Dr Nobilo said this was partly due to geographical factors, with Croatia
being at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Central Europe and the Balkans,
and Malaysia located in this part of Asia.

In an interview with Bernama, the diplomat also attributed the low level of
economic linkages with Malaysia to the relatively small size of Croatia, which
is home to some 4.5 million people.

Describing trade ties between the two countries as at a "symbolic level and
very initial stage", Dr Nobilo said both countries focused more on trade ties
with their respective regions -- the European Union (EU) in the case of Croatia,
and Asia and the Pacific Rim for Malaysia.

This, he said, may partly explain the low level of economic cooperation
between the two countries.

Croatia proclaimed its independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991 and
established diplomatic ties with Kuala Lumpur in 1995.

Dr Nobilo pointed out that politicians could create the right framework to
enhance trade and economic ties although he admitted that merging the interests
of two sides was not always easy.

The diplomat reckoned that there were many fields where Croatian and
Malaysian businessmen could find niches for cooperation. Trade volume between
Croatia and Malaysia amounted to only US$70 million in 2008.

Describing the political ties as "very friendly and healthy", Dr Nobilo
noted that Zagreb had established relations with Kuala Lumpur at the very
beginning of its independence.

Dr Nobilo said Malaysia played a very important role in peacekeeping efforts
in the former Yugoslavia, sending troops under the United Nations (UN), and
highlighted the country's constructive role at the UN in efforts to find peace
during the conflict in Bosnia and Croatia.

According to him, cooperation between Croatia and Malaysia in the
international arena was excellent, especially at the UN.

The diplomat also alluded to Malaysia's important role in the Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM), where Croatia is an observer, as well as the Southeast Asian
nation's prominent position within the Islamic world.

Dr Nobilo said he was very much impressed with the level of development in
Malaysia which he described as "internationally very visible".