VARAZDINSKE TOPLICE, Sept 16 (Hina) - If the European Union, spurred by terrorists actions in the United States and motivated by the wish to prevent such events in the future, is going to set up 'a buffer zone' at its border lines,
the question poses itself where Croatia will happen to be, i.e. from which side of the zone, Croatian Premier Ivica Racan said on Saturday night at a press conference at the northern Croatian health spa of Varazdinske Toplice where his party, Social Democrats (SDP), were holding a three-day conference on reforms. The SDP leader maintains that the future agreement of Croatia with Slovenia but also ideas about the regulation of relations in the south-east of Europe should be considered in the context of possible protection of a certain circle of European countries. Indirectly commenting on German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer's plan about the western Balkans, Racan
VARAZDINSKE TOPLICE, Sept 16 (Hina) - If the European Union,
spurred by terrorists actions in the United States and motivated by
the wish to prevent such events in the future, is going to set up 'a
buffer zone' at its border lines, the question poses itself where
Croatia will happen to be, i.e. from which side of the zone,
Croatian Premier Ivica Racan said on Saturday night at a press
conference at the northern Croatian health spa of Varazdinske
Toplice where his party, Social Democrats (SDP), were holding a
three-day conference on reforms.
The SDP leader maintains that the future agreement of Croatia with
Slovenia but also ideas about the regulation of relations in the
south-east of Europe should be considered in the context of
possible protection of a certain circle of European countries.
Indirectly commenting on German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer's
plan about the western Balkans, Racan said he was aware that some
western European diplomats believed that the establishment of a
kind of economic association in southeastern Europe would put an
end to conflicts in that corner of Europe.
"We would like to help settle the problems, but we cannot and will
not accept such solutions. We do not accept ideas which envisage
that all of us should be held together, as it will be safer for the
rest of the world, according to some estimates," Racan told
reporters.
He said he was aware that a lack of appropriate responses provided
fertile ground for ideas unacceptable both for the SDP and Croatia,
such as ideas about the strengthening of the unity among countries
established in the area of the former Yugoslavia.
"The war is over. The stability of the region, however, depends on
what is going on in the countries in the region. Judging from
developments in Macedonia, we cannot be sure that the region is
stable," he added.
Speaking about Croatia's international position, during last
night's press conference, Racan also said "we have to be efficient
in integration processes with the European Union since any failure
in that regard may be dramatically dangerous."
(hina) ms