"The statements made yesterday by the EC spokeswoman are extremely one-sided and unacceptable. I assume that she did not have all the facts which here are the merit of the thing. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration will therefore send the EC all relevant information," Sanader said.
EC spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen on Wednesday described as inappropriate the language Croatian President Stjepan Mesic used in response to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano's statements on Italian victims at the end of World War II, but she would not comment on Napolitano's statements.
The office of the Croatian president yesterday issued a statement describing Hansen's statement as one-sided and unfair.
Speaking about the victims of the foibe, karst pits into which Partisans threw Italians after executions in the aftermath of WWII, Napolitano said last Saturday that the drama of the foibe was the result of "the barbarism of the century" and "Slavic bloodthirsty hatred" and territorial aspirations.
Mesic responded by saying that Napolitano's statement contained elements of open racism, historical revisionism and political revenge-seeking.
The Croatian government has so far issued two statements on this situation, seeking to find, in line with its obligations and powers and in coordination with the President of the Republic, a way out of it through diplomatic means, Sanader said. He added that Zagreb and Rome would continue their dialogue which so far had been friendly.
Speaking about Croatia's position on historical events, Sanader said that it was based on objective facts and that Croatia had condemned all crimes on a number of occasions.
He reiterated that the new Europe had to be based on the equality of all of its members and respect for the truth.
"The project of a united Europe has a chance only if it is really based on equality," the PM said.
The dialogue on crimes that were committed should be based on facts and conducted in such a way to open the door to the future, rather than push us into the past over again, the PM added.
"Croatia is tired of the past, and so is probably Italy and Europe. We must not forget the past, but we cannot allow issues from the past to prevent our progress towards the future. All crimes committed in that period of history, before, in the course and in the aftermath of World War II, should be condemned and clarified so that they can no longer be used for repeated debates and unwanted politicising," Sanader said.
Acting in agreement with President Mesic, the government proposed a few days ago that a Croatian-Italian commission discuss the issue and that forensic experts investigate the foibe.
Another outstanding issue in Croatian-Italian relations is Croatia's debt to Italian refugees amounting to some USD35 million, Sanader said, repeating that Croatia was ready to pay the debt and that this issue would soon be resolved with Italy.
He reiterated that any revision of the Rome or Osimo accords was out of the question and that agreements had to be respected.