Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic (L) and visiting Albanian President Ilir Meta inspect the guard of honor in Zagreb, Croatia, on Oct. 29, 2019. Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic said here on Tuesday that she deeply regretted that the European Council had failed to reach a consensus on opening talks with Albania and North Macedonia. (Robert Anic/Pixsell via Xinhua)

ZAGREB, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic said here on Tuesday that she deeply regretted that the European Council had failed to reach a consensus on opening talks with Albania and North Macedonia.

"Croatia strongly supports the opening of accession negotiations with Albania," the Croatian president said after meeting her Albanian counterpart Ilir Meta, who is on a two-day visit to Croatia.

"The two countries are also connecting the Adriatic Sea, which is why the protection and prevention of pollution of the Adriatic Sea and coastal areas is of strategic importance for Croatia and Albania," Grabar-Kitarovic said, expressing her satisfaction with the United Nations Development Program project aimed at tackling marine pollution and the prevention of disasters that could have extremely negative consequences for the Adriatic Sea.

Albanian President Meta said the common interest of the two countries is peace, stability and prosperity of Southeast Europe, and also the development of further economic relations.

The project of the Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline was particularly emphasized, which the presidents of Croatia and Albania regarded as being of strategic importance for both countries.