"Of course I can't be glad that the talks will not start on Thursday, but I am satisfied with the adoption of the negotiating framework. Even that was uncertain and it was even stated that Croatia could end up with the scenario of another country," Sanader said in Brussels after the Council of the European Union decided to postpone the talks without setting a new date.
"We expected the talks to start on March 17 because Croatia has done what it was requested to do, which is to cooperate fully with the Hague tribunal," Sanader said.
According to Sanader, European foreign ministers did not conclude that "Croatia has not done its utmost (in the Gotovina case), but there was no consensus on the matter".
The PM said that countries supporting the start of talks were more numerous than those that were against, contrary to recent media speculation.
He explained that seven countries supported Croatia, four or five were against, and several more were for, but remained neutral.
Several diplomatic sources reported previously that Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Cyprus, Malta, Ireland and Lithuania supported Croatia, while most others were against. It was also speculated that Slovakia changed its position to oppose the start of the talks, but this was later denied.
Sanader said that efforts to solve the Gotovina case would not be intensified. "We will continue with the same intensity, because we are already fully cooperating with the Hague tribunal."
"The cooperation has already been proven and the only question is how that cooperation is perceived. Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean Claude Juncker confirmed today that full cooperation does not mean Gotovina in The Hague," Sanader said.
The PM believes that the Council's decision will not increase Euro-skepticism in Croatia, but that it will not weaken it either.
Announcing intensive lobbying activity, Sanader said that he would travel to Brussels next week to attend a meeting of the European People's Party (EPP).
It is encouraging that we enjoy the EPP's support, as well as the support of a number of Socialist parties, he said.