BERLIN, Oct 31 (Hina) - Most German print and electronic media covered Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's visit to Croatia on Thursday, highlighting his support to Croatia's bids to join the European Union.
BERLIN, Oct 31 (Hina) - Most German print and electronic media
covered Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's visit to Croatia on
Thursday, highlighting his support to Croatia's bids to join the
European Union. #L#
Der Spiegel said in its electronic edition of Friday that Schroeder
labelled Croatia's admission to the EU a "priority issue" which
would be supported "wholeheartedly". According to the weekly,
Croatia will almost certainly join the Union in 2007.
Frankfurter Rundschau highlighted the fact that Schroeder did not
make support to Croatia on the road to the EU conditional on
cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia. By doing so, Schroeder clearly distanced himself from
the UK and the Netherlands, which insist on strict compliance with
the tribunal's requests, the author said.
Die Welt daily said Croatia's admission to the EU alongside
Bulgaria and Romania, which applied for membership in 1995, would
constitute "sensational progress" and testify to the speed at which
Croatia was making headway.
Die Welt highlighted the fact that Schroeder received a very warm
welcome in Zagreb, and noted that Croatia and Germany shared close
ties, also due to the "200,000 Croats living here".
The German media did not write about Schroeder's visit in the light
of next month's parliamentary election in Croatia.
(hina) ha sb