Speaking in Zagreb at a plenary session of the Crans Montana Forum devoted to EU enlargement, Sanader reiterated that his government was fully committed to cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague and that it was awaiting a political decision from the EU confirming it.
The Croatian prime minister said that the European Union was the only choice not only for Croatia, but also for all other countries of Southeast Europe. Speaking of Croatia, he said: "I am certain that already now we are living by common European values," including democracy, freedom and tolerance.
Sanader said that European prospects should be "clear and unequivocal" and that Croatia's entry into the bloc was important for both sides. "Croatia will benefit from Europe and Europe from Croatia," he said, also underlining the importance of the enlargement process for the entire region.
"The sooner Croatia enters, the sooner our neighbours will also enter," Sanader said, concluding that "the European Union will not be whole without the countries of Southeast Europe".
Fabrizio Barbaso, Director of the European Commission's Directorate General for Enlargement and head of the EU negotiating team for Croatia, shared Sanader's view that the enlargement process should continue and that it should include the Southeast European countries. He called Sanader "a true European".
I would say that the Balkan countries represent a front rather than a back door to Europe, Barbaso said.
Speaking of Croatia, Barbaso said that it was facing one remaining obstacle on the road to the EU, namely cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal.
The ball is in your half of the court, Barbaso said, adding that as soon as Croatia is ready for accession, the EU will also be ready.
Speaking of the EU enlargement process as a historic mission, Barbaso expressed confidence that in 2007 the negotiations with Croatia would be well under way and that Macedonia could start membership talks that year.