RAMALLAH, March 31, 2011 (WAFA)-  President Mahmoud Abbas  Thursday received  Croatian Prime Minister,  Jadranka Kosor, in the Presidency headquarter, in Ramallah.

He informed the press after their meeting that they discussed recent peace developments  and its future as well as the importance of reaching  a two-state solution to end the Palestinian-Israeli struggle.

He said that they also discussed ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation and relations as well as assigning Palestinian  non-resident representative  to Croatia and a Croatian representative to Palestine.

Responding to one of the journalist’s questions, Abbas expressed his hope  to establish a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. He also stressed on the importance of stopping all settlement activities in order to resume negotiations and establish the State.

Prior to the Abbas’ meeting  with Kosor , Prime Minister Salam Fayyad  Thursday announced  the formation of economic joint Palestinian –Croation Council  to support the economic cooperation between both countries  and  increase financial assistance to Palestinians.

Fayyad during a press statement added that  both sides agreed on developing  cooperation in Health sector including exchange of medical  experiences and Palestinians’ treatment in Croatia.

He expressed his pleasure to meet  Kosor accompanied with  Croatian delegation in order to discuss several issues, specifically  political issues and bilateral relations.

Fayyad added  that they agreed upon developing bilateral relations through following-up with the Croatian –Palestinian  Foreign Ministries to reach the  highest upgrade of diplomatic relations.

Kosor who will visit several health institutions in Ramallah, said that Croatia will send a Palestinian family suffering from disabilities to a rehabilitation center in Croatia.

Kosor supported  a two-state solution which she considered fair.

R.S./F.R.