ZAGREB, Oct 1 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan has dismissed suggestions by some media that the doors to Europe are closing for Croatia.
ZAGREB, Oct 1 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan has
dismissed suggestions by some media that the doors to Europe are
closing for Croatia. #L#
"I am sure that we can say 'Good day' rather than 'Goodbye' to
Europe," Racan told reporters at the government building in Zagreb
on Wednesday.
He also stated that one should not scare Croatian citizens with
pessimism.
The PM would not comment on speculation that the case of runaway
general Ante Gotovina was only an excuse to keep Croatia away from
the EU and that if there was no Gotovina case, some other pretext
would be used instead.
Speaking about the upcoming visit of the chief prosecutor of the UN
war crimes tribunal in The Hague, Racan reiterated that Croatia was
co-operating and wanted to cooperate with the tribunal.
"We will be able to present Carla Del Ponte with all the arguments
which bear witness to the cooperation and readiness of this
government to cooperate with the tribunal," he said.
"If one believes that Croatia should have done something, but did
not, one has to provide arguments as to where it could have arrested
(Gotovina) and why it did not do it. I hope nobody expects us to
expand our jurisdiction to Europe and further," Racan said.
He repeated that Croatia could not be punished for something it
wanted but was objectively unable to do, and voiced confidence that
interlocutors from Europe would understand that.
He stated that there were forces in the country which did not want
cooperation with the tribunal, which were reserved towards that
cooperation, or simply believed that the tribunal's requests
should not be met.
One cannot punish Croatia for such stands, and yielding to them
would mean Croatia's isolation, Racan said.
(hina) rml sb