Sanader told Croatian reporters he rejected the proposal because of the Central European Free Trade Agreement. "I suggested that we liberalise conditions for free trade and that the only condition for joining CEFTA be the institutionalised relationship between a country and the EU."
"It's very important to settle the free trade problems which have arisen after the signing of bilateral agreements between the countries in the region," Sanader said, mentioning some negative experiences with Bosnia and Herzegovina, which he added made some unilateral moves contrary to its free trade agreement with Croatia.
"There would be no games if we were in an organisation like CEFTA," Sanader said, adding that rules would be known and have to be respected.
His positions were supported by prime ministers Vojislav Kostunica of Serbia, Milo Djukanovic of Montenegro, Vlado Buckovski of Macedonia, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu of Romania, and the host of the Salzburg meeting, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel.
The prime ministers also discussed the European prospects of their countries.
Kostunica indirectly criticised Montenegro, saying that "some want to disintegrate as Europe is integrating".
Djukanovic said the definition of Montenegro's status would not endanger the processes going on in Europe. He added the main issues of Europe's southeast were the stabilisation of Kosovo and finding a long term solution for Serbia-Montenegro relations.
Sanader told reporters he held separate talks with the participants in today's meeting. "Kostunica and I agreed that the normalisation of relations should continue because there's no alternative to it."