WASHINGTON, June 8 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula ended his visit to the United States with talks at the US national security council. The talks he held in America were market with agreements on expanding the very
good, partnership relations between the USA and Croatia, an exchange of views about the situation in the region and an agreement on further steps to be taken in Croatia's joining Euro-Atlantic associations. Picula informed deputy director of the national security council Steven Hadley and special advisor for South East Europe Greg Shutley about political processes in Croatia, assessed the situation in the region and again requested American support on Croatia's way to full NATO membership. The American officials wished to hear about Croatia's estimates of the situation in the region, especially Macedonia, and how Croatia intends to build good relations with neighbouring countries. The same subjec
WASHINGTON, June 8 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula
ended his visit to the United States with talks at the US national
security council.
The talks he held in America were market with agreements on
expanding the very good, partnership relations between the USA and
Croatia, an exchange of views about the situation in the region and
an agreement on further steps to be taken in Croatia's joining Euro-
Atlantic associations.
Picula informed deputy director of the national security council
Steven Hadley and special advisor for South East Europe Greg
Shutley about political processes in Croatia, assessed the
situation in the region and again requested American support on
Croatia's way to full NATO membership.
The American officials wished to hear about Croatia's estimates of
the situation in the region, especially Macedonia, and how Croatia
intends to build good relations with neighbouring countries.
The same subjects were also the focus of a news conference Picula
held at the national press club.
Asked whether he expected that the next NATO summit in Brussels will
result in a decision as to which members of the V-10 group would
enter the NATO first, Picula said he did not believe so,
particularly because President George Bush's government still does
not have a completely constructed political view on the matter.
The second important foreign policy goal -- Croatia's entry into
the EU began to be realised with the adoption of the Stabilisation
and Association Agreement.
It is up to us to create the necessary preconditions for membership
by the end of the year 2006. What might happen after that we cannot
influence, Picula said.
Speaking about Croatia's relations with neighbouring countries,
Picula said Croatia first wished to end its own democratic change,
and for its interest wants to assist the democratic development in
neighbouring countries.
Connections can expedite the process of joining the main of
European current, and nobody in their right mind wants a new
Yugoslavia when the remains of the last one are gradually falling
apart, Picula stressed.
The Croatian government deems it an advantage that it is a bridge
for Central Europe, the Mediterranean and the Balkans.
Still, we do not accept our weights to be incapability, dourness or
problems in some other country. We expect an assessment of our own
progress to be made on our way to Europe, he asserted.
(hina) lml