BRUSSELS, Jan 27 (Hina) - European Commission president Romano Prodi has endorsed Croatia's intention to submit an official request for membership in the European Union next month. Prodi said this after talks with Croatian Prime
Minister Ivica Racan in Brussels on Monday.
BRUSSELS, Jan 27 (Hina) - European Commission president Romano
Prodi has endorsed Croatia's intention to submit an official
request for membership in the European Union next month. Prodi said
this after talks with Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan in
Brussels on Monday. #L#
Having heard Croatia's arguments for submitting the application,
Prodi said after one-hour talks with the Croatian premier that he
had concluded the talks with "why not".
The premier clearly said Croatia would fulfil its obligations --
cooperation with the U.N. war crimes tribunal, return of refugees,
media, and the judicial and economic reform. After this meeting we
will go together in the same direction, but responsibility lies
with the Croatian side, said Prodi.
He asserted that his support to Croatia was the joint stance of all
in the European Union.
Racan voiced his satisfaction with the support he received from
Prodi.
"We spoke about the application for membership of the European
Union which Croatia will most probably submit in Athens on February
18," Racan said, adding that Croatia was aware of its obligations
and that it was solely up to Croatia how fast it would move towards
the Union.
After the meeting with Prodi, Racan will be leaving for Zagreb,
while Foreign Minister Tonino Picula will stay in Brussels and on
Tuesday hold talks with the European Commission's commissioner for
foreign affairs, Chris Patten, and the EU high representative for
foreign affairs and security, Javier Solana.
Racan's visit to Brussels is a part of his European tour whose aim is
to secure support for Croatia's bids to join the European Union.
(hina) lml sb