CROATIAN MINISTER SPEAKS AT MEETING OF VILNIUS GROUP

RIGA, July 5 (Hina) - Croatia's Foreign Minister Tonino Picula on Friday in Riga said that he hoped that pursuant to the NATO summit in Prague, Croatia would not have to wait long for full membership. He said that joining the EU and NATO needed to remain the primary foreign policy objective for the country, regardless of who was in government. #L# In a press statement following the meeting of prime ministers of the Vilnius Group held in the capital of Latvia on Friday and Saturday, Picula said that Croatia had commenced the process of reforms, and expressed hope that there would be sufficient political will and determination to implement these reforms. After accessing the Membership Action Plan (MAP), Croatia needs to adopt the Annual National Programme (ANP) that, according to Picula, is in its final phase. Asked about the current political events in Croatia and whether this would in any way slow down reforms and as a repercussion, accession to Euro-Atlantic associations, Picula said he believed that the processes which had been commenced would continue regardless of who was in government. "I believe that we have passed the point of no return, and regardless of who the government consists of in Zagreb, the fundamental foreign policy interests of the country have a common streak and that is to work on the grand national and responsible task of accessing the EU, both politically and economically, as well as NATO as a political-military association," Picula said. He added that wide consensus existed amongst Croatian citizens for the country not to back down on these objectives regardless of the problems that had arisen and still might. Immediately after the fist session, Minister Picula departed for Croatia, while the remainder of the Croatian delegation will continue the session on Saturday, with Defence Minister Jozo Rados at the helm. (hina) sp sb