BRUSSELS, Jan 28 (Hina) - Croatia is completely aware that submitting an application for membership will not make the list of its international obligations any shorter, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said in Brussels on
Tuesday.
BRUSSELS, Jan 28 (Hina) - Croatia is completely aware that
submitting an application for membership will not make the list of
its international obligations any shorter, Croatian Foreign
Minister Tonino Picula said in Brussels on Tuesday. #L#
Picula met European foreign affairs commissioner Chris Patten and
EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy
Javier Solana.
At a joint press conference, Solana said the most important thing
for Croatia was to continue with reforms and not to expect too much
because this, according to him, could lead to frustrations.
Picula said Patten told him that the success of Croatia's candidacy
would depend only on how convincing Croatia would be on fulfilling
its international obligations. No joint statements were made after
the talks with Patten, because Picula had to rush on a meeting with
Solana.
"The common feature of all the meetings of Croatian and European
officials on Monday and Tuesday in Brussels is the support to our
country's application for membership of the EU," Picula said.
Asked to comment on a statement by British Secretary for European
affairs Dennis MacShane that the path to Europe goes through the
Hague, Picula said that cooperation with the Hague Tribunal
remained the most important criterion for membership.
The meetings with Solana and Patten marked the end of the visit of
the Croatian delegation to Brussels. Prime Minister Ivica Racan met
the European Commission President, Romano Prodi, on Monday.
(hina) it sb