"If the Commission were to give its recommendation on the basis of today's information, I could not recommend opening negotiations with Croatia," Rehn told a news conference in Brussels at which he presented a negotiating framework for membership talks with Croatia.
I believe that the Croatian government "will take this message seriously". There is "no short-cut to Europe, just the regular road, which means respect for the rule of law," the EC official said.
Rehn went on to say that following the information obtained from the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, and other well-informed sources it could be assumed that General Ante Gotovina was within the reach of Croatian authorities. According to the same sources, there is reason to assume that Gen. Gotovina, who has been on the run since July 2001 when the ICTY unsealed his indictment, is probably in Croatia or Croat-populated areas of Bosnia-Herzegovina, according to Rehn.
At its last summit in December 2004, the European Council decided to open entry negotiations with Croatia on 17 March this year provided that Croatia fully cooperated with the Hague-based ICTY.
The European Council asked the EC to draw up a framework for the entry talks with Croatia. On Wednesday the Commission is expected to formally adopt the draft negotiating framework and forward it to the Council of Minister which should endorse it unanimously.