VIENNA, Dec 12 (Hina) - Croatia's main goal on the international front is to become a candidate for EU membership next year, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said Thursday at a session of the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Permanent Council in Vienna.
VIENNA, Dec 12 (Hina) - Croatia's main goal on the international
front is to become a candidate for EU membership next year, Croatian
Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said Thursday at a session of the
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE)
Permanent Council in Vienna. #L#
The status of candidate will not only give an additional fillip to
the reform process in Croatia, but will positively affect
developments in the region, and create a favourable atmosphere and
help provide funds for solving issues within the OSCE's mandate,
Picula said.
The minister advocated the strengthening of relations between EU
member-countries and countries included in the Stabilisation and
Association Process, as well as the consolidation of their European
prospects.
Speaking about the solution of open issues with neighbouring
countries and the promotion of good neighbourly relations, Picula
accentuated the latest activities on that front -- peaceful
solutions to border disputed with Bosnia and the opening of a
Croatian-Yugoslav border crossing in Hrvatska Kostajnica, an
agreement on a temporary regime in Piran Bay with Slovenia, and most
recently, a protocol on a temporary regime on Prevlaka peninsula,
signed with Yugoslavia.
Picula informed the Council about Croatia's progress in the return
of refugees. He stressed that in the past two and a half years, some
68,000 Croatian citizens, of whom 38,000 Serbs, had returned to
their homes in Croatia.
"The Croatian government is investing significant efforts to step
up the property restitution process," said Picula, adding that the
government had earmarked EUR120 million for that purpose from next
year's budget.
The Permanent Council was also acquainted with the dynamics of the
passing of a constitutional law on the rights of minorities. Picula
said that the parliamentary majority, opposition parties and
national minorities had reached a consensus on the issue and that
the parliament would vote about the law on Friday.
Picula reiterated Croatia's commitment to fully cooperate with the
U.N. war crimes tribunal (ICTY), and explained that in the case of
retired General Janko Bobetko (indicted by the ICTY), Croatia had
exhausted all legal resources available under the tribunal's
regulations.
"Even at the price of political risk, my government is determined to
cooperate with the ICTY," Picula said.
He informed the Council about the situation regarding the passing
of a new law on Croatian Radio-Television (HRT), saying that the
bill which was currently in parliamentary procedure was aimed at
strengthening the HRT as a public medium.
Speaking about Croatia's cooperation with the OSCE Mission, Picula
said that the two sides had been good partners and Croatia expected
further assistance and advice in the accomplishment of its goals.
The government's stance in view of the OSCE Mission is that its
eighth year in Croatia will be crucial, the minister said.
"The Croatian government's constant progress and achievements in
fulfilling international obligations, particularly since 2000,
will prompt a more detailed discussion about the mandate by the end
of next year," said Picula.
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