WASHINGTON, Jan 22(Hina) - The whole region might react negatively if Croatia was denied admission to the European Union and NATO, Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul has said in an interview with The Washington Times of Thursday.
WASHINGTON, Jan 22(Hina) - The whole region might react negatively if
Croatia was denied admission to the European Union and NATO, Foreign
Minister Miomir Zuzul has said in an interview with The Washington
Times of Thursday.#L#
"I fear (rejection) would be very dangerous not just for Croatia but
for the entire region," Zuzul said. "It would be exactly the way to
destroy the vision of a way forward for countries such as Serbia and
Bosnia... A signal that we are welcome in the EU, on the other hand, I
think would be very crucial to the stability of the entire region."
Zuzul said the new government was attempting to depoliticize the war
crimes issue, leaving it to the justice system and the police to
coordinate policy with the tribunal in The Hague.
The minister voiced confidence the Serbian Radical Party would not be
part of Serbia's coalition government, but said the relative majority
it won at recent parliamentary elections was worrying nevertheless.
"You have to have concerns when you have a major party in a
neighbouring country claiming half of your territory."
Croatia is a small country but it will be a reliable ally for the U.S.
in the region, Zuzul said, adding that Croatia could help bridge
recent tensions between the EU and the U.S. over the war in Iraq.
"We want to join Europe, but we are also very comfortable with the
United States. We have never accepted the idea that you have to choose
between the two," Zuzul said.
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