BRUSSELS, Feb 23 (Hina) - The Irish EU Presidency will do all to facilitate the continuation of the dialogue with Croatia and will insist on objective criteria in the assessment of Croatia's progress on the road to the EU, Irish
Foreign Minister Brian Cowen said in Brussels on Monday evening.
BRUSSELS, Feb 23 (Hina) - The Irish EU Presidency will do all to
facilitate the continuation of the dialogue with Croatia and will
insist on objective criteria in the assessment of Croatia's progress
on the road to the EU, Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen said in
Brussels on Monday evening. #L#
Cowen made the statement after a meeting between the EU Troika and a
Croatian delegation that was headed by Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul.
The meeting, which was part of the regular political dialogue between
Brussels and Zagreb, was also attended by Dutch Foreign Minister
Bernard Bot, the EU's High Representative for the Common Foreign and
Security Policy, Javier Solana, and the European Commission's External
Relations Commissioner Chris Patten.
It was stated during the talks that Croatia had made great progress in
drawing closer to the EU in recent years. Cowen said he believed that
the new government had stepped up those efforts.
The remaining areas where even greater achievements are expected are
cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal, refugee return, and the
judicial reform.
At a time when the avis of the European Commission is expected,
Croatia can make the most progress if it meets the tribunal's
expectations and by taking action change the minds of those EU members
which are not quite satisfied with its cooperation with the tribunal,
Cowen said.
Minister Zuzul said that Croatia was doing all to meet the set
criteria, adding that he had the impression that his government's
achievements so far had been well received in Europe.
Asked what his government would do to make the tribunal satisfied,
Zuzul said it would fulfil its international obligations.
(Hina) rml