BRUSSELS, March 10 (Hina) - European Union ambassadors on Thursdaydebated whether to open Croatia's accession talks next week and leanedtowards a postponement, while Luxembourg's presidency is trying toleave Croatia a last-minute
chance to do everything to arrest Haguewar crimes tribunal indictee Ante Gotovina by Wednesday, when EUforeign ministers will make the final decision, Reuters quoteddiplomats as saying.
BRUSSELS, March 10 (Hina) - European Union ambassadors on Thursday
debated whether to open Croatia's accession talks next week and leaned towards
a postponement, while Luxembourg's presidency is trying to leave Croatia a
last-minute chance to do everything to arrest Hague war crimes tribunal
indictee Ante Gotovina by Wednesday, when EU foreign ministers will make the
final decision, Reuters quoted diplomats as saying.According to diplomats, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn plans
to meet Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte on Monday, while Prime Minister
Jean-Claude Juncker is meeting Croatian President Stjepan Mesic in Madrid today
on the margins of a conference on terrorism.
Reuters quoted a European diplomat as saying that the Union's message to
Zagreb was simple -- "No Gotovina, no talks" -- given that all 25 member
countries need to unanimously support the opening of the negotiations.
EU ambassadors are due to discuss Croatia again on Tuesday, a day before
the meeting of foreign ministers.
The European Commission reiterated today it would be very difficult to
open accession negotiations if Croatia did not fully cooperate with the Hague
tribunal.