ZAGREB/BRUSSELS, Dec 5 (Hina) - The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC), which gathers foreign ministers of NATO member-states and partner countries, has expressed support to Croatia's bids to fully integrate into Euro-Atlantic
structures on condition that Zagreb comply with its international obligations, including full cooperation with the Hague-based UN war crimes tribunal, Croatia's foreign minister said on Friday after attending an EAPC meeting in Brussels.
ZAGREB/BRUSSELS, Dec 5 (Hina) - The Euro-Atlantic Partnership
Council (EAPC), which gathers foreign ministers of NATO member-
states and partner countries, has expressed support to Croatia's
bids to fully integrate into Euro-Atlantic structures on condition
that Zagreb comply with its international obligations, including
full cooperation with the Hague-based UN war crimes tribunal,
Croatia's foreign minister said on Friday after attending an EAPC
meeting in Brussels. #L#
"This does not surprise us at all. At the meeting was reiterated
what we already know, namely what is the obstacle on our path
towards NATO," Tonino Picula said commenting on Thursday's
ministerial statement of NATO which said that the countries in the
Balkans must bring to justice all persons accused by the ICTY,
including Bosnian Serb war-time leaders Radovan Karadzic and Ratko
Mladic as well as retired Croatian general Ante Gotovina.
In this context Picula said that Croatia should not only remove all
remaining political impediments, which according to him were few,
but should also overhaul its military.
Picula told the Brussels meeting that Zagreb's priorities in
foreign affairs -- entry into the European Union and NATO --
remained unchanged, regardless of recent parliamentary elections
which resulted in a change in power.
On behalf of President Stjepan Mesic, Picula presented NATO
Secretary-General George Robertson with a high Croatian decoration
for his contribution to Croatia's efforts to join NATO.
(hina) ms sb