LONDON, Feb 11 (Hina) - Great Britain will ratify the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Croatia and the European Union after it receives firm assurances that Zagreb is cooperating with The Hague's war crimes tribunal,
Croatian Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul said in London on Wednesday after talks with British officials. After it gets adequate arguments, London will act in line with its principles, Zuzul said.
LONDON, Feb 11 (Hina) - Great Britain will ratify the Stabilisation and
Association Agreement between Croatia and the European Union after it
receives firm assurances that Zagreb is cooperating with The Hague's
war crimes tribunal, Croatian Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul said in
London on Wednesday after talks with British officials. After it gets
adequate arguments, London will act in line with its principles, Zuzul
said.#L#
Zuzul held talks on Croatia's further rapprochement with the European
Union and NATO with British Minister for Europe Dennis MacShane,
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon.
"The ratification will occur when there is a firm assurance and
perception that Croatia is cooperating with the Hague tribunal... and
I am confident that Great Britain, once it receives the adequate
arguments, will be principled," Zuzul told Croatian reporters speaking
of his talks with MacShane and Straw.
Zuzul told Croatian reporters that he was informed this was London's
standpoint at all of the talks he held today.
"Great Britan will be principled not only in removing obstacles but
also in supporting Croatia," Zuzul said and added that he was
confident of that.
Great Britain and the Netherlands discontinued the process of
ratifying the SAA because they were dissatisfied with cooperation
between Zagreb and the Hague tribunal.
"I believe that we made great progress, as much as can be done at
talks," Zuzul said and added that in order to make any further
progress concrete moves would be required.
"I believe that were are on the path of developing firm and good
bilateral relations with Great Britain," the Croatian minister said.
Ahead of his meeting with Zuzul, MacShane hailed the call which
Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Andrija Hebrang made to fugitive
general Ante Gotovina on the government's behalf on February 3 to
surrender to the Hague tribunal. MacShane also said the Croatian
government had made a big step forward in this delicate issue.
MacShane expressed hope Gotovina would listen to Hebrang's advice and
surrender to the ICTY.
Zuzul and the British officials also discussed concrete bilateral
issues such as the cancellation of the visa regime for Croatian
citizens. The Croatian minister said he was told London would consider
the visa regime towards Zagreb in the near future.
(Hina) it sb