We have several weeks left, he said. Croatian authorities must be engaged and show that there is 100-percent cooperation with the Hague-based tribunal, said Asselborn before arriving at European Union foreign ministers' session which he will chair.
The moment is crucial, he said. The Croatian government knows very well that after the report by the tribunal's Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte, it must act, Asselborn added.
British Minister for Europe, Denis MacShane, said that the sooner the runaway general Ante Gotovina arrived in The Hague, the quicker Croatia would enter EU admission process.
Britain is at the helm of those countries that advocate Croatia's entry into the EU, but it is also the first one to insists on Croatia's complete fulfilment of its obligation towards the Hague tribunal, MacShane told Croatian reporters, adding that Croatia had its place in the EU.
The Council of Foreign Ministers gathered on Monday in Brussels for their regular monthly meeting. It is expected to discuss, among other things, a negotiating framework for Croatia and the country's cooperation with the UN tribunal.
The ministers will not make any decision regarding Croatia today, and a final decision on whether the EU accession talks will be opened on 17 March, is to be made at the next session of the EU foreign ministers, scheduled for 16 March.
Today in Brussels, the Council is expected to call once again on Croatia to locate and transfer the runaway general Gotovina to the Hague tribunal as soon as possible.