LUXEMBOURG, Oct 29 (Hina) - Croatia and the European Union adopted a draft joint declaration on political dialogue in Luxembourg on Monday. We are transmitting the statement in its integral form:
LUXEMBOURG, Oct 29 (Hina) - Croatia and the European Union adopted a
draft joint declaration on political dialogue in Luxembourg on
Monday.
We are transmitting the statement in its integral form: #L#
"DRAFT JOINT DECLARATION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND ITS MEMBER
STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA ON POLITICAL DIALOGUE
On the occasion of the signature of the Stabilisation and
Association Agreement between the European Communities and their
Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Croatia, of the
other part, the European Community and its Member States and the
Republic of Croatia (hereinafter referred to as "the Parties")
express their resolution to reinforce and intensify their mutual
relations in the political fields.
Accordingly, the Parties agree to establish a regular political
dialogue which will accompany and consolidate their rapprochement,
support the political and economic changes underway in the Republic
of Croatia, and contribute to strengthening their existing links
and establish new forms of cooperation, in particular taking into
account Croatia's status as a potential candidate for European
Union membership.
The political dialogue, based on shared values and aspirations,
will aim at:
1. Reinforcing democratic principles and institutions as well as
respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging
to national minorities;
2. Promoting regional cooperation, development of good neighbourly
relations and fulfilment of obligations under international law;
3. Facilitating the integration of the Republic of Croatia to the
fullest possible extent into the political and economic mainstream
of Europe based on its individual merits and achievements;
4. Increasing convergence of positions between the Parties on
international issues, and on those matters likely to have
substantial effects on the Parties, including cooperation in the
fight against terrorism and other areas in the field of justice and
home affairs;
5. Enabling each Party to consider the position and interests of the
other party in their respective decision making process;
6. Enhancing security and stability in the whole of Europe and, in
particular, in South-Eastern Europe, through cooperation in the
areas covered by the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the
European Union.
The political dialogue between the Parties will take place through
regular consultations, informal contacts and exchange of
information as appropriate, in particular in the following
formats:
1. High-level meetings between representatives of the Republic of
Croatia on the one hand, and representatives of the European Union,
in the Troika format, on the other;
2. Providing mutual information on foreign policy decisions taking
full advantage of diplomatic channels, including contacts at the
bilateral level in third countries as well as within multilateral
fora such as the United Nations, OSCE, Council of Europe and other
international organisations;
3. Contacts at Parliamentary level;
4. Any other means which would contribute to consolidating, and
developing dialogue between the Parties;
5. Where appropriate, political dialogue may be organised as a
multilateral and/or regional dialogue."
(hina) lml