BUCHAREST, Dec 4 (Hina) - Croatia received one mention in an item of a ministerial statement on Southeast Europe adopted at the Ministerial Council's ninth session ending in Bucharest Tuesday. The ministers hailed further progress
accomplished by Croatian authorities in implementing democratic and economic reforms, and positive steps made by the Croatian government towards regional stability, particularly through significant progress in regional cooperation. Efforts made by the Organisation for Stability and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Croatia during 2000 were also greeted. Support to the Mission's future efforts in cooperation with Croatian authorities was voiced. According to the statement, ministers expect further steps in Croatia and other countries in the region towards reaching solutions to problems regarding refugees and displaced persons, including exercising their rights to return to their homes and property
BUCHAREST, Dec 4 (Hina) - Croatia received one mention in an item of
a ministerial statement on Southeast Europe adopted at the
Ministerial Council's ninth session ending in Bucharest Tuesday.
The ministers hailed further progress accomplished by Croatian
authorities in implementing democratic and economic reforms, and
positive steps made by the Croatian government towards regional
stability, particularly through significant progress in regional
cooperation.
Efforts made by the Organisation for Stability and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) Mission in Croatia during 2000 were also greeted.
Support to the Mission's future efforts in cooperation with
Croatian authorities was voiced.
According to the statement, ministers expect further steps in
Croatia and other countries in the region towards reaching
solutions to problems regarding refugees and displaced persons,
including exercising their rights to return to their homes and
property restitution in the entire region.
Support to the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe was reiterated
at the beginning of the statement as an important initiative in
promoting the strengthening of democracy, economic development and
security.
Ministers expect the fulfilling of international obligations
assumed with the Dayton Peace Agreement in their entirety, and full
cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia (ICTY). They hailed steps the countries in the
region made in this regard. They particularly pointed out that all
indictees needed to be extradited to the Hague Tribunal.
The fourth item of the statement is dedicated to Macedonia, but the
country's name and the name of the nation was not mentioned at all.
According to diplomatic sources, the situation arose because some
countries did not want to accept the name Macedonia, while
Macedonians at the same time refused the international name for
their country - the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
The result of this is an article mentioning only the "state", even
though it was clear to everyone which country it pertained to.
As regards Yugoslavia, satisfaction was expressed with
accomplishments achieved so far in democratisation. Continuation
in the same direction was advised.
Ministers marked elections in Kosovo as a beginning of a phase of a
temporary democratic self-government in line with constitutional
provisions, and called on all ethnic communities to take part in
it.
Democratically elected authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina were
called on to make further headway in the consolidation of state
institutions, in the return of refugees and displaced persons, and
establishing a unified market in line with Dayton and Paris peace
agreements.
The role of the Albanian government in regional cooperation was
evaluated as positive. The ministers established that
parliamentary elections in Albania in 2000 represented progress in
relation to elections in previous years.
(hina) np sb