ZAGREB, July 8 (Hina) - Italy supports Croatia's bids to join the European Union and NATO, Italian Defence Minister Antonio Martino said at talks with Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan and Defence Minister Zeljka Antunovic in Zagreb
on Tuesday.
ZAGREB, July 8 (Hina) - Italy supports Croatia's bids to join the
European Union and NATO, Italian Defence Minister Antonio Martino
said at talks with Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan and Defence
Minister Zeljka Antunovic in Zagreb on Tuesday. #L#
"Italy believes that Croatia is a natural candidate for the EU and
fully supports it in that regard... as well as its bids to become a
NATO member," Martino told reporters.
"Italy believes that Croatia belongs to the EU because Europe must
be open and extroverted and not closed and introverted," he said.
Croatian Defence Minister Zeljka Antunovic said the talks focused
on concrete cooperation activities in the area of defence and
security, and bilateral and regional cooperation.
She said that possible cooperation in peace missions in Kosovo had
been mentioned as well.
The talks also addressed Croatia's full participation in the
multinational military unit of the Quadrilateral.
The Italian minister this morning held talks with the Armed Forces'
Chief-of-Staff, General Josip Lucic.
The Italian official also met Prime Minister Ivica Racan. A
statement from the government's public relations office quoted
Racan as saying Croatia appreciated very much good neighbourly
relations with Italy, as well as regional cooperation and
initiatives aimed at regional integration.
(hina) rml sb