CHIRAC, KOSTUNICA ON FRY, EU AND BILATERAL RELATIONS

BELGRADE, Dec 7 (Hina) - French President Jacques Chirac on Friday said he hoped the countries of the region, including Yugoslavia, would join the European Union very soon. During his official visit to Belgrade, Chirac said Yugoslavia would need three to four years of negotiations in order to be able to join. After talks, Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and Chirac said the two countries' relations were excellent. The Yugoslav President said the talks focused on the situation in the region, relations within the Yugoslav federation, issues regarding the southern Yugoslav province of Kosovo, and cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The French President said he informed Kostunica of France's standpoint regarding the need for cooperation with the ICTY and assessed the cooperation had improved, which had been confirmed by the ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte. He stressed that all those who committed crimes must be brought to justice. Kostunica said a EU initiative on the re-organisation of relations within the Serbian-Montenegrin federation was not a mediation but an encouragement to find a rapid and right solution. Chirac said France and the EU shared the same concern and had the same approach to the problem as Kostunica. He said the issue must be solved within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. An agreement is necessary and I am convinced that the continuation of talks will lead to the solution which is in line with the federal framework, Chirac said. The two presidents are unanimous regarding the need for the return of displaced persons to Kosovo, increasing security and establishing relations among Yugoslavia, the UN Mission in Kosovo and Kosovo Albanians. Chirac said Yugoslavia would soon make the first step toward the EU by signing a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). (hina) it sb