ZAGREB, Aug 20 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Wednesday he hoped Croatia's neighbours and EU representatives would agree to the proclamation of an economic zone in the Adriatic, or at least show understanding for
Croatia's intention to do so.
ZAGREB, Aug 20 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Wednesday
he hoped Croatia's neighbours and EU representatives would agree to
the proclamation of an economic zone in the Adriatic, or at least
show understanding for Croatia's intention to do so. #L#
Legally the proclamation of the economic zone is a Croatian issue,
the PM told reporters, adding that the zone was of national interest
but that its proclamation must not cause conflicts with
neighbouring countries or harm Croatia's strategic interest --
admission to the European Union.
Racan said the government had been working on the issue for a long
time. A task force has been set up and it has begun talks with
neighbours, especially Italy and Slovenia, as well as with EU
representatives, he said.
September will see meetings between mixed Croatian-Italian groups
in Rome, meetings with Slovenia, and a meeting in Brussels at which
countries of the Mediterranean will tackle the subject, Racan said,
adding that the public would be informed of the talks' results.
"After that we plan... to put to parliament an initiative which
should be legislative in nature," he said, adding that he was
hopeful the neighbours and the EU would express their understanding
before that took place.
The PM declined to comment on public initiatives and the scoring of
political points on the subject of the economic zone. He reiterated
there was no divergence in opinion in the ruling coalition and the
opposition regarding the proclamation of the zone.
(hina) ha