LISBON, April 5 (Hina) - The European Union can only gain from Croatia's membership and the role it can play in Southeast Europe, Portugal's President Jorge Sampaio said after talks with his Croatian counterpart Stjepan Mesic in
Lisbon on Monday.
LISBON, April 5 (Hina) - The European Union can only gain from
Croatia's membership and the role it can play in Southeast Europe,
Portugal's President Jorge Sampaio said after talks with his Croatian
counterpart Stjepan Mesic in Lisbon on Monday.#L#
Portugal has supported Croatia's EU membership application from the
very start, Sampaio said, adding that if Croatia fulfilled the
Copenhagen Criteria Portugal would help in every way to expedite the
admission process.
Asked by reporters what kind of support he expected, President Mesic
said Lisbon supported Croatia's bid to join the EU in 2000 and
ratified the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
He added that Croatia also expected support now that discussions were
under way about issuing a positive opinion on Croatia's membership
application.
Speaking of another subject, Sampaio told reporters the fight against
terrorism should be fought within the EU as well as in cooperation
with the United States.
He said it was important to cut the financing of terror organisations
but also underlined the importance of political wisdom.
Sampaio added it was also important to maintain the ability to talk
and find solutions as it is the only way to defeat fundamentalism.
This position concurs with statements given by Mesic, who has pointed
out on numerous occasions since the September 11 terror attacks that
the struggle against terrorism begins by eradicating the problems,
such as poverty and lack of prospects, which provide fertile ground
for terrorism.
The two heads of state said Croatia and Portugal had no outstanding
issues and that it was necessary to bolster bilateral cooperation at
every level.
Sampaio said Portugal appreciated the efforts Croatia had made since
2000 by carrying out democratic reforms, strengthening the rule of
law, and developing good relations with its neighbours.
Mesic said Croatia realised that it had to meet all EU entry criteria
which were set for every country in transition. He thanked Portugal
for its support to Croatia on its road to the EU and NATO.
(Hina) ha sb