Zuzul said the system of values which in the political context could be filed under the concept of democracy was the most important dimension of the EU.
He added that when one spoke of the EU, apart from the protection of human and minority rights, one referred to a context which had enabled the reconciliation of Germany and France and which made reconciliation in Southeast Europe possible as well.
Zuzul said this process had advanced considerably and that Croatia's conduct was repeatedly singled out as that of a model country, which he added was no longer referred to as a case.
He went on to say that when the EU was viewed as a process or a series of parallel processes, development and security remained the two dimensions which in the future would be given much more attention.
The two-day economic forum, which began today, has pooled representatives of 30 countries. Some of today's debates focused on Southeast Europe.
Ernard Busek, the special coordinator for the Stability Pact for the region, said the situation in Kosovo and Serbia and Montenegro was the region's biggest problem, and that the settlement of the Kosovo issue must not be postponed.
Speaking of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Busek said the government there had no power at all and compared the country to a defence minister without an army.
He urged neutral countries such as Switzerland and Norway to help in the financing of the region.
Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic said the state union of Serbia and Montenegro lagged behind other countries in the region in terms of EU integration. He underlined that Montenegro did not want to be Serbia's hostage, and that unlike Serbia it did not have problems with the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague or unresolved border issues. He said the state union had not resulted in reforms required for EU integration.
In a statement to Hina, Djukanovic said he felt his address at the Vilnius forum had been well-received, but added he had difficulty dissuading Brussels from what he said was a fixation about the state union of Serbia and Montenegro.
With regard to Turkey, which is represented by Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, the Vilnius forum adopted a statement urging the EU to acknowledge the efforts Turkey is taking to meet integration criteria. The statement read the forum felt the continuation of reform in Turkey was in the interest of united Europe, and that this deserved a fair answer with clearly defined prospects.
On Tuesday, the Croatian foreign minister is due to meet his Lithuanian counterpart Antanas Valionis.