ZAGREB, April 26 (Hina) - By obtaining a positive opinion from the European Commission on its application for membership in the EU, Croatia is making its centuries-old aspirations a reality and returning to where it belongs - in the
company of Europe's best, Montenegrin Parliament President Ranko Krivokapic said in Zagreb on Monday.
ZAGREB, April 26 (Hina) - By obtaining a positive opinion from the
European Commission on its application for membership in the EU,
Croatia is making its centuries-old aspirations a reality and
returning to where it belongs - in the company of Europe's best,
Montenegrin Parliament President Ranko Krivokapic said in Zagreb on
Monday.#L#
"I congratulate Croatia on entering the last stage before full EU
membership... because the confirmation of the EC's decision by the
European Council is only a formality," Krivokapic said.
On 20 April the EC issued a positive avis on Croatia's membership
application and the EU Council of Ministers is to voice its position
on the document in mid-June.
Krivokapic addressed reporters after talks with Croatian Parliament
President Vladimir Seks.
Croatia's integration into the EU will encourage and help Montenegro
on its road to the EU, although in relation to Croatia it is
considerably lagging behind at the moment, Krivokapic said.
He said he would inform the highest Croatian officials of Montenegro's
wish to develop cooperation in all fields.
Croatian Parliament President Vladimir Seks voiced great satisfaction
with the first meeting of Croatian and Montenegrin parliamentary
presidents.
"There is very high level of closeness and good neighbourly relations
between Croatia and Montenegro," he said adding that he would insist
on deepening parliamentary cooperation.
Seks voiced a wish for Montenegro "to do all it can in line with its
sovereign right to accelerate its integration into the EU" and
promised the support of the Croatian parliament on that road.
Asked to comment on the intensifying of relations between the two
countries, considering the fact that Montenegrin President Filip
Vujanovic also visited Zagreb ten days ago, Krivokapic said this was
in line with the decisions of the EU summit in Thessaloniki which
adopted recommendations on the need to promote regional parliamentary
cooperation.
"One should be aware of the events from the last decade and of the
distrust which resulted from them," Krivokapic said adding that
efforts should be made to bring bilateral relations to the level
appropriate for good neighbours.
Croatia and Montenegro are oriented towards one another in many areas,
such as tourism and traffic connections, Krivokapic said expressing a
wish for the Adriatic-Ionian highway to continue through Montenegro
towards Albania after reaching Dubrovnik.
He invited Seks to visit Montenegro as soon as possible, which Seks
accepted with pleasure.
Asked to comment on the organising of the Croat community in Tivat,
Seks said this was very positive and showed that Montenegro's policy
towards minorities had changed.
(Hina) rml