The EU high commissioner for the common foreign and security policy held talks in Zagreb on Tuesday with Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul about Croatia's cooperation with the U.N. tribunal in The Hague and relations with neighbouring Slovenia.
Croatian media have alleged recently that if del Ponte's report to the Security Council was negative, it might slow down Croatia's EU integration.
Sanader said cooperation with the Hague tribunal was Croatia's commitment, that all war criminals must be put on trial, and that there must be no collective guilt.
"Croatia can't be anyone's hostage, not even (fugitive) General (Ante) Gotovina's, who must define his status before the Hague tribunal," said Sanader.
Solana said he could not add anything to what the Croatian PM said other than it was the foundation of everything.
He said the EU appreciated very much everything Croatia had done in order to join the Union and wanted Croatia to become a member as soon as possible.
Solana said the entry date had not been set and dismissed as incorrect press allegations that Croatia would join the EU in 2011 or later. He added such claims were unrealistic and recalled that Croatia was an entry candidate that first had to start pre-accession talks.
Speaking of outstanding issues with Slovenia, Solana said they should be settled in the European spirit of dialogue, cooperation and good will. He offered his personal as well as the EU's help in the settlement of the Croatian-Slovene border issue.
Sanader suggested attempting to settle the border issue bilaterally one more time with Slovenia's new government, but if that failed to seek international arbitration.
"But before that, we'll try to do something within the EU as well, given that Croatia is a candidate and Slovenia a member," he said.
Speaking of the recent increase in the number of opponents to Croatia's EU entry, Sanader said it was a consequence of announcements that negotiations with the European Commission were about to begin. He added, however, that information campaigns could assure the public that it was better if Croatia joined the EU than did not.