Zuzul, who gave an interview to the HTV prime time newscast after the European Commission released a pre-accession strategy for Croatia, said that "in relations with the Hague tribunal, as perceived in the world, there is still one outstanding problem. But the fact is that it is only one problem, and it is a fact that Croatia has proved that it cooperates with the tribunal appropriately through the implementation of the rule of law, and I am not concerned".
"I believe that like in the spring, del Ponte's report will be correct with regard to Croatia and I don't expect any surprises," the minister said.
He is also confident that in early 2005 Zagreb and the EU will start entry negotiations, as mentioned in the pre-accession strategy.
Commenting on the safeguard clause in the document, which stipulates a possible suspension of the negotiations in the case of serious and persistent breach of human rights, freedoms, democracy and EU laws, Zuzul said this mechanism was not actually any novelty.
What is important for Croatia is that the same criteria, which were applied for 10 countries admitted to the European bloc this year or in negotiations with candidates Romania and Bulgaria, will be valid for Zagreb and all other future aspirants, Zuzul said.