ZAGREB, Jan 14 (Hina) - Greek foreign minister and chairman of the EU Council of Ministers Georgios Papandreou said in Zagreb on Tuesday Greece supported Croatia in its bids to join the European Union.
ZAGREB, Jan 14 (Hina) - Greek foreign minister and chairman of the
EU Council of Ministers Georgios Papandreou said in Zagreb on
Tuesday Greece supported Croatia in its bids to join the European
Union. #L#
Addressing a joint news conference after talks with Prime Minister
Ivica Racan, Papandreou said that Greece, both separately and as
the EU's current chair, supported Croatia's membership of the
Union.
He congratulated Croatia on the economic and political reforms it
had undertaken, saying it served as a model to the other countries
in the region.
Croatia's success story may be an example to every country of the
region, Papandreou said, adding it was up to each country to set its
own pace of carrying out reforms and adapting to European values.
Asked by journalists about the possibility of Croatia's accession
to the EU in 2007, the Greek official said it was very difficult to
play with dates. He would not, however, rule out the possibility of
Croatia catching up by that time.
Prime Minister Racan, stressing the good and amicable relations
with Greece, voiced satisfaction with the fact the country was
chairing the EU.
"We are glad Greece is chairing the EU... because of its
understanding of the situation in this part of Europe, and it is
during Greece's chair that Croatia will apply for EU membership,"
he said.
He evaluated that both countries were interested in developments in
Europe, especially in its southeast, and reiterated Croatia's wish
to contribute to regional cooperation, in the interest of the
region and Europe as a whole.
A Greek journalist asked about Serb refugee returns, an important
obligation in Croatia's drawing closer to Europe. Racan said those
returns represented "an important strategic step for Croatia".
"We are tapping the budget for a lot of money for refugee returns,"
Racan said, but added "the ethnic make-up cannot be like the one
prior to the war and the aggression on Croatia".
Papandreou said Croatia had to resolve this issue in line with
European standards. Refugee returns are of huge importance, not
only in Croatia but in the other countries of the region as well, he
said.
Papandreou invited Racan on behalf of Greek Prime Minister Costas
Simitis to visit Athens in the spring.
Earlier today he met Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula. He is
visiting Zagreb as part of a tour of Southeastern Europe's
countries participating in the Stabilisation and Association
Process with the EU. He has already been to Macedonia and Albania.
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