ZAGREB, April 26 (Hina) - Britain's Minister for Europe, Denis MacShane, said on Monday his country intended to resume ratification of Croatia's Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union, the British
Embassy in Zagreb said in a press release.
ZAGREB, April 26 (Hina) - Britain's Minister for Europe, Denis
MacShane, said on Monday his country intended to resume ratification
of Croatia's Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the
European Union, the British Embassy in Zagreb said in a press
release.#L#
MacShane was attending a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg
on Monday.
"I am pleased to announce that the UK will resume parliamentary
ratification of the SAA," he was quoted in the press release as
saying.
"This follows ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte's recent positive
assessment of Croatian cooperation and the recent assurances given to
me by the Croatian Government that this level of cooperation would be
sustained," the British minister said.
"Europe should give encouragement and support to the start of Croatian
accession negotiations. However, as the European Commission's Avis
states, Croatia needs to maintain full cooperation and take all
necessary steps to ensure that Ante Gotovina is located and
transferred to The Hague.
"As I told Foreign Minister colleagues, it is essential that Croatia
makes every effort to resolve the Gotovina case before EU Heads of
State/Government meet at the June European Council. I was glad to note
widespread support for the UK's position," MacShane said.
Britain suspended ratification of the SAA in October 2002 because of
Croatia's non-cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal.
(Hina) vm