ZAGREB, Dec 11 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Wednesday he and President Stjepan Mesic at today's working meeting did not talk about a joint letter in which Croatia and the heads of four South Eastern Europe's
countries seek support in drawing closer to the European Union.
ZAGREB, Dec 11 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on
Wednesday he and President Stjepan Mesic at today's working meeting
did not talk about a joint letter in which Croatia and the heads of
four South Eastern Europe's countries seek support in drawing
closer to the European Union. #L#
"That story is over for me and we didn't discuss it," Racan told
reporters after the meeting.
Racan said the government continued to insist on an individual
approach in accessing the EU. Croatia agrees to regional
cooperation but not to a regional admission to the Union, he said,
adding this stance was known and that Croatia stuck by it.
The PM said the letter by the five presidents would not hamper
Croatia.
The moves the government is preparing will make Croatia ready to
bear the responsibility for its candidacy, Racan said, adding
Croatia was aware cooperation with neighbouring and countries in
the region was important for that candidacy to succeed.
He announced the government would consider Croatia's programme for
association with the EU at its regular session tomorrow, while
parliament would debate it at an extraordinary session, probably
next week.
Responding to reporters' questions, Racan voiced hope parliament
would find a solution in connection with the sending of Croatian
military police to the U.N. and NATO mission to Afghanistan.
The PM expects parliament will decide to send the troops as it would
be in keeping with the national interest to join NATO. He said
President Mesic had agreed with him on this issue.
Racan was also asked about an initiative by the Croatian People's
Party and two regional parties, PGS and SBHS, to have parliament
address the possible resignation of Zdravko Tomac of the Social
Democratic Party (SDP) from the post of chairman of parliament's
foreign affairs committee due to what they say were inadmissible
statements recently made about former President Franjo Tudjman's
positive role in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Racan said he had already clearly stated he disagreed with the
statements. He added they were not the SDP's or his own policy, and
that the SDP had not changed its stance regarding Tudjman's policy,
particularly in connection with Bosnia.
Racan objected to demanding someone's resignation due to political
disagreements. He said he disagreed with some stances Construction
Minister Radimir Cacic made the same day as Tomac but that he would
not even consider asking that Cacic resign.
Racan said Cacic's generalised statements about the political
structure were unacceptable as all were not equal in that
structure. If someone says there is corruption they should state
who they are referring to, said the PM.
Racan said his talks with Mesic today also addressed Croatia's
restored sovereignty on its southernmost peninsula, Prevlaka. He
added they agreed it was a big step, and that he would say more
during an upcoming visit there, where he will invite the presidents
of all parliamentary parties.
(hina ha sb