ZAGREB, Jan 24 (Hina) - Illegal migrations in Southeast Europe are one of the priorities of the Stability Pact's working table on security, Norwegian Ambassador and chairman of the table Kim Traavik said in Zagreb on Wednesday. I
cannot give a precise answer how this will be done, however, it will be one of the priorities, Traavik told a press conference after a meeting at which Croatia officially assumed Presidency over the third Stability Pact working table for the next six months. Co-chairman of the table and Croatia's Ambassador to the European Union Vladimir Drobnjak said Croatia was aware of the problem which was discussed during today's talks between representatives of the Stability Pact and Sweden's Presidency over the European Union. Drobnjak said Croatia was in an excellent position to help the solving of the problem. When asked whether Croatia would tighten the control of the borders with Bo
ZAGREB, Jan 24 (Hina) - Illegal migrations in Southeast Europe are
one of the priorities of the Stability Pact's working table on
security, Norwegian Ambassador and chairman of the table Kim
Traavik said in Zagreb on Wednesday.
I cannot give a precise answer how this will be done, however, it
will be one of the priorities, Traavik told a press conference after
a meeting at which Croatia officially assumed Presidency over the
third Stability Pact working table for the next six months.
Co-chairman of the table and Croatia's Ambassador to the European
Union Vladimir Drobnjak said Croatia was aware of the problem which
was discussed during today's talks between representatives of the
Stability Pact and Sweden's Presidency over the European Union.
Drobnjak said Croatia was in an excellent position to help the
solving of the problem.
When asked whether Croatia would tighten the control of the borders
with Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,
aiming at solving the illegal migrations problem, Drobnjak said
Croatia would not solve the problem by "raising walls between
countries". The problems must be solved in other ways, he added.
Considering that the third working table tackles issues of internal
security as well as foreign, officials also discussed civil
protection programmes emphasising the struggle against forest
wild-fires.
An international exercise of fire-fighting forces should be held in
Croatia in May in order to implement the gained experience during
the upcoming summer tourist season.
Representatives of the Stability Pact pointed to the need for the
strengthening of Yugoslavia's role in the Stability Pact
programmes, considering that the country joined the Pact late last
year.
The next working table will be held in Zagreb between May 2 and 4
"which will be another opportunity for Croatia's affirmation",
Drobnjak said.
The Stability Pact was adopted in June 1999 at a ministerial
conference in Cologne. The Stability Pact member countries are
Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Slovenia, Albania,
Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, the European Union, the United States
and representative of the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe. The support group
includes Japan, Canada, NATO, the United Nations and other
international organisations, financial institutions and regional
initiatives.
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