Croatia–Egypt relations
Encyclopedia
Croatian-Egyptian relations are foreign relations between Croatia
and Egypt
. Egypt recognized newly independent Croatia on April 16, 1992, and the two countries established diplomatic relations on October 1, 1992. Croatia has an embassy in Cairo
and an honorary consulate in Alexandria
. The Cairo Embassy also officially handles the countries of Bahrein, Ethiopia, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan and UAE; as well as the following in some matters: Djibouti, Eritrea and Iraq. Egypt has an embassy in Zagreb
. Both countries are members of the Union for the Mediterranean
.
SFR Yugoslavia maintained good relations with Egypt, especially through the Non-Aligned Movement
. In the 1970s and 1980s numerous Croatian companies had Egypt and other Arab countries as a capital export market, including INGRA
, and the Croatian authorities have been trying to re-create these opportunities with various investment-related activities. Numerous Croatian officials made official visits to Egypt, and most recently Hosni Mubarak
was in Zagreb in October 2009 while Jadranka Kosor
returned the visit in December 2010. Croatian companies made some inroads in the Egyptian market, notably including an oil exploration concession
for INA in 2002 that became significant in 2007. In early 2011, many Croatian workers were evacuated from Egypt, including those by INA, as the 2011 Egyptian revolution
started.
In July 2011, the Croatian Government complied with the decision of the Council of the European Union
to freeze Egyptian assets in connection to Mubarak and 18 connected persons.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Egypt recognized newly independent Croatia on April 16, 1992, and the two countries established diplomatic relations on October 1, 1992. Croatia has an embassy in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
and an honorary consulate in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
. The Cairo Embassy also officially handles the countries of Bahrein, Ethiopia, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan and UAE; as well as the following in some matters: Djibouti, Eritrea and Iraq. Egypt has an embassy in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
. Both countries are members of the Union for the Mediterranean
Union for the Mediterranean
The Union for the Mediterranean is a multilateral partnership that encompasses 43 countries from Europe and the Mediterranean Basin: the 27 member states of the European Union and 16 Mediterranean partner countries from North Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans...
.
SFR Yugoslavia maintained good relations with Egypt, especially through the Non-Aligned Movement
Non-Aligned Movement
The Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries...
. In the 1970s and 1980s numerous Croatian companies had Egypt and other Arab countries as a capital export market, including INGRA
Ingra (construction company)
INGRA d.d. is a Croatian construction company. Founded in 1955, INGRA has carried out work in more than 30 countries on more than 100 power supply facilities such as hydroelectric power plants, dams and pumping stations, and more than 700 projects such as factories, hotels, tourist complexes,...
, and the Croatian authorities have been trying to re-create these opportunities with various investment-related activities. Numerous Croatian officials made official visits to Egypt, and most recently Hosni Mubarak
Hosni Mubarak
Muhammad Hosni Sayyid Mubarak is a former Egyptian politician and military commander. He served as the fourth President of Egypt from 1981 to 2011....
was in Zagreb in October 2009 while Jadranka Kosor
Jadranka Kosor
Jadranka Kosor is a Croatian politician and former journalist. She is the current Prime Minister of Croatia, having taken office on July 6, 2009, following the sudden resignation of her predecessor Ivo Sanader. She is Croatia's first female Prime Minister since independence.-Early life:Jadranka...
returned the visit in December 2010. Croatian companies made some inroads in the Egyptian market, notably including an oil exploration concession
Concession (contract)
A concession is a business operated under a contract or license associated with a degree of exclusivity in business within a certain geographical area. For example, sports arenas or public parks may have concession stands. Many department stores contain numerous concessions operated by other...
for INA in 2002 that became significant in 2007. In early 2011, many Croatian workers were evacuated from Egypt, including those by INA, as the 2011 Egyptian revolution
2011 Egyptian revolution
The 2011 Egyptian revolution took place following a popular uprising that began on Tuesday, 25 January 2011 and is still continuing as of November 2011. The uprising was mainly a campaign of non-violent civil resistance, which featured a series of demonstrations, marches, acts of civil...
started.
In July 2011, the Croatian Government complied with the decision of the Council of the European Union
Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...
to freeze Egyptian assets in connection to Mubarak and 18 connected persons.