BRUSSELS, Oct 30 (Hina) - By signing a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) Croatia has shown that it is going in the right direction at an impressively high speed, European Commission President Romano Prodi said after talks
with Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan Tuesday.
BRUSSELS, Oct 30 (Hina) - By signing a Stabilisation and
Association Agreement (SAA) Croatia has shown that it is going in
the right direction at an impressively high speed, European
Commission President Romano Prodi said after talks with Croatian
Prime Minister Ivica Racan Tuesday. #L#
Croatia is strategically important for us as well, so it is our
priority as well to have this agreement, Prodi said.
The EC official believes the SAA is a key step in Croatia's
rapprochement with the EU.
Prime Minister Racan said the pace of Croatia's joining the EU would
depend on Croatia itself. "This is the answer to those who place
Croatia in the context of the regional approach," Racan stressed.
Croatia must show it is a stable and safe country which contributes
to stability and cooperation in the region, he said.
According to sources close to the Croatian delegation, Prodi told
Racan the reason Croatia was not among top EU candidates was its
past and not its future.
(hina) it