PARIS, Feb 24 (Hina) - Croatia is "willing, ready and able" to carry out what the European Union is asking of it to do in order to mull the membership candidacy which Croatia had submitted last Friday in Athens, Croatian President
Stjepan Mesic said in Paris on Monday.
PARIS, Feb 24 (Hina) - Croatia is "willing, ready and able" to carry
out what the European Union is asking of it to do in order to mull the
membership candidacy which Croatia had submitted last Friday in
Athens, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said in Paris on Monday.
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In his lecture at the French Institute for International Relations
(IFRI), the Croatian head of state quoted obligations his country
should fulfil on its path towards the full EU membership, and he
also spoke about benefits which Europe could derive from accepting
Croatia as its member.
"Any serious consideration of our candidacy is out of the question,
before Europe becomes sure that we are not only willing but also
able to do what is expected of us," Mesic said.
He pointed to the full cooperation with the Hague-based UN war
crimes tribunal, reform and de-politicisation of the judiciary,
minorities' rights and refugee returns, and in this context he
added that there were some cases of misunderstanding between the
Croatian government and the EU.
"I believe that the time of misunderstanding is over," Mesic said
adding that "we do know very well what is expected of us... and not
only do we know but we are also willing, ready and able to carry it
out".
With Croatia's entering the Brussels club, the EU would, first of
all, enter the final stage of a project of uniting Europe. Besides,
with its admission (into the Union), Croatia offers an opportunity
for the south-east of Europe to transform itself into a zone of
peace and stability with respect to its policy of regional
cooperation and good neighbourly relations, the Croatian president
said.
Concerning human and minorities' rights, Croatia, as a EU member,
could help inaugurate "a new view on minorities in our part of
Europe," Mesic said.
"Croatia is not a country which is only asking and expecting
something of the united Europe. We really can help one region to
first come closer and then join the EU," he said.
Commenting on the Iraqi crisis, Mesic said his country was in favour
of the consistent struggle against international terrorism.
"I do not rule out the war option either ... but I reiterate: war is
really the last resort... conceivable and acceptable only if those
countries act within the mandate of the UN," the Croatian president
concluded.
(hina) ms