ZAGREB, June 2 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said Monday that a meeting of the presidents of former Yugoslav republics and representatives of Albania and Greece, led by foreign minister Georgios Papandreou, "focused on our
attempts to realise standards, harmonise our laws and join the European Union as soon as possible."
ZAGREB, June 2 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said
Monday that a meeting of the presidents of former Yugoslav
republics and representatives of Albania and Greece, led by foreign
minister Georgios Papandreou, "focused on our attempts to realise
standards, harmonise our laws and join the European Union as soon as
possible." #L#
"One again we confirmed the individual approach, which means no
convoy, but a regatta... We support our joint cooperation because
each (country) for itself is a small market, but if we cooperate, we
have a serious market, particularly if we count to that countries
that are close to us," the Croatian head of state told reporters
during today's visit to the Cedevita company in Zagreb.
Answering to a reporter's question, Mesic said the meeting also
focused on the visa regime and added that after a one-sided
decision, Serbia and Montenegro was opening its territory to 40
countries including Croatia "because it is difficult to conduct
business activities with a visa regime, wait for various approvals
and lose the deal in the process".
"It is also unrealistic to expect from those coming to Croatia to
wait a long time for our visas and approvals from the foreign and
interior ministries to be able to conclude a business deal. Those
businessmen will go where things are simpler, which is why Croatia
must take all necessary measures to liberalise the visa regime and
in same cases even abolish it," president Mesic said.
He added that those who wished to use Croatia's territory for
illegal purposes did not arrive with passports and visas anyway.
"Therefore, control mechanisms must exist," Mesic stressed.
(hina) it sb