"Croatia has been praised for its capability and credibility in the screening process and for progress made in the reform process," Sanader said addressing participants in the tenth dialogue of the Orthodox Church and the European People's Party (EPP).
After it received the European Commission's progress report, Croatia knows exactly what remains to be done which is why Croatia's objective is to end the negotiations by the end of 2008, Sanader said.
Of course, this would not have happened if it wasn't for inter-ethnic and interreligious dialogue in Croatia, tolerance, and the respect for minority rights, reconstruction and the return of refugees, Sanader said.
Croatia is aware that together with the Catholic majority, the Orthodox minority is its asset," Sanader said speaking at the session called "The Thessaloniki Process - Reports from Croatia and Serbia", presenting everything that he personally and his government have done in dialogue with the Orthodox faithful in Croatia and for the development of the two countries' good neighbourly relations.
Sanader also stressed that although significant progress has been made in dialogue and tolerance, the stabilisation of Southeast Europe remains the greatest security challenge for Europe at the start of this century.
"Therefore it is extremely important that the Thessaloniki Process clearly gives European prospects to all countries of the region. European integration processes will not be complete without this part of the continent," the Croatian PM stressed, adding that dialogue, tolerance, and the respect for human dignity according to Christian standards were a foundation for a united Europe.
Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis agreed, stressing that his country supported all Southeast European countries' joining the EU, according to their own merits.
Karamanlis said his country would continue to assist Southeast European countries on that part, bilaterally and on the international front. Political and economic integration with the European Union is a key to peaceful coexistence and good neighbourly relations, the Greek PM said.
A former Slovak PM and host of event, Mikulas Dzurinda, strongly supported Croatia on its path to the EU. He, however, expressed concern with the fact that "under the guise of difficulties that some other country (Turkey) is having, the Croatian path is being slowed down".
Serbian Education Minister Slobodan Vuksanovic addressed the participants on behalf of Serbian PM Vojislav Kostunica. He paid particular attention to relations between the Church and the state in his country. Vuksanovic expressed Serbia's readiness to sign a historic agreement with Kosovo Albanians, in accordance with the international law, UN charters and Serbia's new constitution, on the joint administration of Kosovo. "Only this kind of an agreement between Albanians and Serbs can bring stability to Kosovo," Vuksanovic said.
After a meeting with Greek PM Karamanlis on Thursday afternoon Sanader is scheduled to return to Zagreb The event in Bratislava will end on Friday with the adoption of a joint declaration.