CRO FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS STATE SECRETARY IN GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY

ZAGREB, Jan 31 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said that the Government is building Croatia's new international identity and expressed hope that relations with the European union soon be institutionalised, the Foreign Ministry reported on Monday. Picula on Monday held talks with State Secretary in the German Foreign Ministry Christopher Zoeplo on foreign policy of the new Croatian Government and relations between the two countries. The Croatian Foreign Minister pointed to the determination of the new Croatian Government to build Croatia's new identity in the international plan, read the statement. In line with this, it is of extreme importance that relations between Croatia and the European Union be intensified and institutionalised as soon as possible, Picula said. He also pointed to the importance of the visit of Croatia's Prime Minister Ivica Racan to Brussels, scheduled for February 14 and 15, which will open a new period of relations between Croatia and the European Union. "Zoepel expressed satisfaction with standpoints stated at the meeting and stressed that the German Government would try to give its support to the implementation of the standpoints. He also expressed readiness of the German Government to help Croatia's joining European integration. Picula said that the Croatian Government would fulfil conditions for joining European integration, read the statement. He said that relations between Croatia and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) would be intensified, because "every crime is unacceptable and must be punished". "If there were crimes during the Homeland War, they should be processed in order to prevent them from tarnishing the hard battle of all Croatian citizens for the creation of their own state, read the statement. Croatia will continue to build its identity of an Central European and Mediterranean state, however, it will remain aware of its obligations in the neighbouring region, the Southeast Europe, Picula stressed. The Croatian Government entirely adopts Constitutional and other obligations regarding Bosnia-Herzegovina, however, the Government will have a different policy in the implementation of the obligations, read the statement. The standpoint of the Croatian Government is that Bosnia- Herzegovina must be an integral and sovereign state with all three constituent nations, as well as all citizens. Its relations towards Croats in Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia will build on transparency, primarily focusing on the issues of the protection and rights to express one's identity in its entirety, as well as education and social and health care, read the statement. (hina) it