ZAGREB, July 7 (Hina) - Italian officials have stated explicitly on several occasions that Croatia's admission to the European Union is Italy's national interest and Croatia appreciates that stand very much, Croatian Deputy Foreign
Minister Ivan Simonovic told Hina in a brief statement Monday.
ZAGREB, July 7 (Hina) - Italian officials have stated explicitly on
several occasions that Croatia's admission to the European Union is
Italy's national interest and Croatia appreciates that stand very
much, Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Simonovic told Hina in
a brief statement Monday. #L#
Statements made by officials in Rome imply that Italy is
particularly interested in seeing Croatia draw closer to the
European Union.
"Italy is important for us not only because of European integration
processes but because it is Croatia's chief trade partner,"
Simonovic said.
As regards Italian refugees who left former Yugoslavia after World
War II (the so-called esuli), the two countries are agreed to solve
possible problems exclusively in bilateral talks, Simonovic said.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini previously stated that
talks with Croatia about the payment of compensation to the esuli
would not have any influence on the policy of Rome, "which wants
Croatia's application for membership in the EU to be accepted as
soon as possible".
(hina) rml sb