SALZBURG, May 22 (Hina) - Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia-Montenegro express hope that a joint declaration on principles for the return of refugees will soon be signed and presented to the international community as the three
countries' contribution to regional cooperation and the strengthening of the stability of south-eastern Europe, read a joint statement released by the three countries' presidents in Salzburg on Thursday.
SALZBURG, May 22 (Hina) - Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia-
Montenegro express hope that a joint declaration on principles for
the return of refugees will soon be signed and presented to the
international community as the three countries' contribution to
regional cooperation and the strengthening of the stability of
south-eastern Europe, read a joint statement released by the three
countries' presidents in Salzburg on Thursday. #L#
Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic, the Bosnian Presidency's
Chairman, Borislav Paravac, and the President of Serbia-
Montenegro, Svetozar Marovic, met in Salzburg during the Central
European summit, to discuss the joint declaration on refugee
returns, the signing of which, previously announced for this event,
was postponed as consultations on harmonising stands were still
underway. They also discussed bilateral relations and the
situation in south-eastern Europe.
Mesic told reporters that the problem of the failure to sign the
declaration at this summit arose due to the abolished tenancy
rights, the solution of which would be mulled over by expert teams.
Svetozar Marovic told reporters that he believed that the joint
statement also showed that the countries in the region were taking
the right direction and co-operating solving concrete issues.
"The issue of the declaration on refugee returns can soon be
settled. The meeting in Salzburg is yet another proof that the said
countries are determined to accelerate their pace towards the
European Union," Marovic said.
The joint statement reads that the three countries are improving
their relations. They signatories say that the promotion of the
ties would be facilitated with the liberalisation of visa regimes
and that all the three states will cooperate with the Hague-based UN
war crimes tribunal and make all efforts to establish the
whereabouts of missing persons.
On the margins of the summit, the Croatian head of state held talks
with his Italian counterpart, Carlo Azegli Ciampi.
"Italy supports Croatia's path towards the EU and expresses
satisfaction with the recently-adopted Croatian constitutional
law on ethnic minorities' protection," Mesic said adding that they
also discussed the protection of the Adriatic area.
(hina) ms sb