ZAGREB, Feb 25 (Hina) - The head of the European Commission delegation to Croatia, Ambassador Jacques Wunenburger,on Wednesday dismissed some media articles according to which the European Commission would voice a positive but
conditional opinion (avis) about Croatia's candidacy for membership of the European Union.
ZAGREB, Feb 25 (Hina) - The head of the European Commission delegation
to Croatia, Ambassador Jacques Wunenburger,on Wednesday dismissed some
media articles according to which the European Commission would voice
a positive but conditional opinion (avis) about Croatia's candidacy
for membership of the European Union.#L#
The opinion about Croatia's candidacy for membership has not yet been
drafted, the ambassador said. Avis does not exist for now, he added.
Media reports are inaccurate as they are unfounded, Wunenburger said.
The head of the European Commission's Delegation in Croatia said the
avis was still being drafted, mentioning the part which referred to
economic factors. As far as the political part of the avis is
concerned, we have not reached that phase yet, he added. According to
him, a positive but conditional avis for Croatia is only one of the
possible scenarios, stressing once again the political chapter had not
yet been opened for discussion.
Asked about his assessment of the atmosphere within the European
Commission about voicing an opinion on Croatia's candidacy,
Wunenburger said the European Commission would prefer a positive avis
to a negative one.
Wunenburger did not give a timeframe in which the opinion would be
formulated, saying that the avis should be completed in the spring. He
also said the European Commission would show understanding if Croatia
requested additional time for drafting and announcing the avis so as
to be certain in the positive outcome.
Wunenburger,reiterated the European Commission's decision must be
unanimous.
Speeking about the fulfilment of political criteria, he said
cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia was of crucial importance for receiving a positive avis.
Nobody can blame Croatia if Gotovina is not hiding in Croatia, but
Croatia will have to prove it did all that it could to find him,
Wunenburger said.
ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte bears an enormous responsibility
because she will be the one to asses Croatia's cooperation with the
tribunal, Wunenburger said, adding that it was also important how
would Croatia treat new indictments announced by del Ponte.
(Hina) it sb