VIENNA, Feb 14 (Hina) - Austria fully supports all bids of Croatia on its path towards the European Union and would like to see the start of negotiations on Zagreb's full membership as soon as possible, Austrian President Thomas
Klestil said after talks with Croatian Premier Ivica Racan on Friday.
VIENNA, Feb 14 (Hina) - Austria fully supports all bids of Croatia
on its path towards the European Union and would like to see the
start of negotiations on Zagreb's full membership as soon as
possible, Austrian President Thomas Klestil said after talks with
Croatian Premier Ivica Racan on Friday. #L#
"I had the chance to confirm once again that Austria will back
Croatia's efforts on its path towards the European Union," Klestil
said, adding that he had told Racan he would like to see the
beginning of negotiations on Croatia's entry to the Union as soon as
possible.
After their 30-minute talks, the Austrian head of state wished
Croatia the best in the following week when Zagreb should submit the
application for full EU membership.
Premier Racan is to hand over the application to his Greek
counterpart Costas Simitis in Athens on 21 February.
President Klestil voiced satisfaction with the excellent bilateral
relations between Zagreb and Vienna, reiterating that Austria has
so far been the biggest foreign investor in Croatia.
"Croatia appreciates very much the support it is being given by
Austria in its bids to join the EU," Premier Racan said, adding that
his people remembered the backing it enjoyed by the Austrians when
it fought for its independence.
The Austrian Parliament was the first also to ratify Croatia's
Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the Union.
Racan began talks with Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel after his
meeting with Klestil.
(hina) ms