ZAGREB, Dec 23 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula on Monday organised a Christmas cocktail for members of the diplomatic corps accredited in the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Foreign Ministry reported.
ZAGREB, Dec 23 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula on
Monday organised a Christmas cocktail for members of the diplomatic
corps accredited in the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Foreign
Ministry reported. #L#
On that occasion, a press release said, Minister Picula reflected
on the results achieved by Croatia in 2002 as well as future steps
that need to be taken, particularly with regard to Croatia's
objectives in the context of Euro-Atlantic associations.
"This year will certainly be remembered with great optimism because
of the end of the UN mandate on Prevlaka," Picula pointed out. He
also reminded that Croatia had become a full member to the Central
European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) this year and that it had been
accepted to NATO's Membership Action Plan which represented an
important step towards full membership, the press statement said.
Keeping in mind that Croatia intends to submit its application for
membership to the European Union next year, Picula expressed
satisfaction with the progress made on this path. "We are fully
aware of our tasks to follow in implementing necessary reforms and
to fulfil our international obligations," he said. In confirmation
of Croatia's decisiveness to follow out the path to access the
European Union, Picula pointed out the unanimous adoption of the
Resolution to Access the EU, the ministry's statement continues.
"It is with satisfaction that we can say that this year we adopted
the constitutional minority law which proves that Croatia is
building European standards for its own benefit while at the same
time, fulfilling its international obligations, Minister Picula
said, adding that the country's continuation to cooperate with The
Hague has been accepted positively.
Following the period of serious conflict, Croatia showed that it
can give all it can to contribute to peace, security and stability
in this part of the world. All contentious bilateral issues are now
being resolved through mutual agreement and in the spirit of mutual
respect, the minister said, expressing hope that next year all
post-crisis problems would be replaced with negotiations about
future progress in the economy, culture, science and education, the
statement says.
The Doyen of the Diplomatic corps, Apostolic Nuncio Julio Eunaudi
thanked his host on behalf of the ambassadors present and expressed
his best wishes for the coming festive season and pointed out that
the Republic of Croatia had made great steps forward which was
highly appreciated by the international community, the press
statement said.
(hina) sp lml