BRUSSELS, Oct 9 (Hina) - The European Union's High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, on Thursday voiced belief that the Croatian government was doing its utmost in cooperation with the
Hague-based UN war crimes tribunal (ICTY).
BRUSSELS, Oct 9 (Hina) - The European Union's High Representative
for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, on
Thursday voiced belief that the Croatian government was doing its
utmost in cooperation with the Hague-based UN war crimes tribunal
(ICTY). #L#
I do not doubt that the Croatian government and Premier (Ivica
Racan) have done their best regarding cooperation with the Hague-
based tribunal and that they will continue doing so in the future,
Solana said in Brussels after his meeting with Croatian PM Ivica
Racan.
Solana announced that the UN war crimes tribunal's Chief Prosecutor
Carla del Ponte would inform EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on
Monday of the cooperation which countries in the area of the former
Yugoslavia were offering to the ICTY.
In Brussels, Solana and Racan also discussed Zagreb's decision to
declare a fishing and ecological zone in the Adriatic.
The EU official said that any decision which might affect
neighbours that are EU members, should be made through consensus,
as it was the practice of the EU to solve issues in that way.
Premier Racan said that the decision on the fishing and ecological
zone was made so as to protect the Adriatic Sea for future
generations, and added that Croatia would follow the European
policy with regard to that matter.
"Regarding this issue, I convey the firm intention of the Croatian
government to follow the European policy and conduct," Racan said.
"We are sure that our decision on the fishing and ecological zone is
not in contradiction with the need to promote cooperation in the
Adriatic and Mediterranean area. Therefore we have suspended the
implementation of the decision for one year, as we expect that we
will reach agreement on its implementation through talks with our
neighbours," Racan said adding that his country will take an active
part in a ministerial conference on the fishing policy in the
Mediterranean, set for late November in Venice.
Solana thanked Racan and his cabinet for the job they did in bids to
draw closer to the European Union. He said the EU highly appreciated
the efforts of the Croatian government and Premier Racan in that
field.
Later in the day, Racan is to hand over Croatia's answers to the
European Commission questionnaire to EC President Romano Prodi.
(hina) ms