ZAGREB, March 13 (Hina) - The latest tragic event in Belgrade will not affect Croatia's process of drawing closer to the European Union, said the European commissioner for foreign affairs, Chris Patten, after talks with Croatian
Premier Ivica Racan on Thursday.
ZAGREB, March 13 (Hina) - The latest tragic event in Belgrade will
not affect Croatia's process of drawing closer to the European
Union, said the European commissioner for foreign affairs, Chris
Patten, after talks with Croatian Premier Ivica Racan on Thursday.
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Patten told reporters that EU foreign ministers would most probably
in April ask the European Commission to give an opinion on Croatia's
application for the EU. He voiced hope that after that he would be
able to come to Zagreb with a positive response.
Premier Racan added that his talks with Patten had revolved around
Croatia's candidacy for EU membership, and said Zagreb enjoyed
Patten's support to those bids.
Croatia is aware of obligations it has to meet on the road towards
the EU, including the resolution of contentious issues such as the
return of refugees, privatisation and cooperation with the UN war
crimes tribunal. Those are conditions which Croatia has set to
itself so that it could develop democracy, Racan told reporters.
He said the government was concerned about possible harmful
implications the assassination of Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic
could have on the process of democratisation in Serbia and on
stability in the region.
"Croatia would like to do all it can to enhance cooperation with
neighbours and contribute to stability in the region," Racan said.
Sabor President Zlatko Tomcic also held talks with Patten.
According to a statement released by the parliament, the EC
official hailed Croatia's application for EU membership, and
informed Tomcic that the process of evaluation of candidature
usually takes one year.
In accordance with this data, a decision of the European Commission
on Zagreb's application can be expected in the first half of 2003.
Tomcic voiced hope that this time term could be shortened.
The two officials exchanged views on Wednesday's assassination of
Djindjic, and both expressed deep concern over the situation in
Serbia, which could negatively affect the situation in
neighbouring countries.
Patten said that developments in Serbia would not affect Croatia's
bids to come closer to the EU, according to Sabor's statement.
(hina) ms sb