ZAGREB, Mar 6 (Hina) - A deputy to Croatia's Foreign Minister, Vesna Cvjetkovic-Kurelec, on Monday held talks with members of the European Commission Technical Mission in charge of evaluating the situation in the country. The meeting
focused on a Croatian government programme and the possibility of starting talks on contractual relations between Croatia and the EU, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement today. The Mission, which arrived today for a visit which will last until March 10, is headed by Fabrizio Barbaso, director for west Balkans at the EC general administration for foreign relations. Barbaso welcomed changes which happened in Croatia following the parliamentary and presidential elections, said the statement. He stressed the purpose of the visit was to secure continuation of expert and political talks which had started during a visit by Croatian Premier Ivica Racan to Brussels and the first meeti
ZAGREB, Mar 6 (Hina) - A deputy to Croatia's Foreign Minister, Vesna
Cvjetkovic-Kurelec, on Monday held talks with members of the
European Commission Technical Mission in charge of evaluating the
situation in the country. The meeting focused on a Croatian
government programme and the possibility of starting talks on
contractual relations between Croatia and the EU, the Foreign
Ministry said in a statement today.
The Mission, which arrived today for a visit which will last until
March 10, is headed by Fabrizio Barbaso, director for west Balkans
at the EC general administration for foreign relations.
Barbaso welcomed changes which happened in Croatia following the
parliamentary and presidential elections, said the statement. He
stressed the purpose of the visit was to secure continuation of
expert and political talks which had started during a visit by
Croatian Premier Ivica Racan to Brussels and the first meeting of a
joint consultative working group held at the EC headquarters.
The visit of the EC Mission is part of preparations for the drawing-
up of a feasibility study on starting negotiations on an agreement
on stabilisation and association, Barbaso said.
The EC Mission then met Assistant Foreign Minister Vladimir
Drobnjak who informed them about the Croatian government programme
of activity for March and April, which is aimed at meeting criteria
for joining the EU, in line with conclusions from the first meeting
of the joint consultative working group, held on February 15 in
Brussels.
According to this programme, before the next session of the joint
consultative working group, which will take place in mid-April, the
Government should prepare changes to discriminatory laws, and
start implementing a refugee return programme, which will be
combined with a programme of creating new jobs with the aim of
enabling a speedier and more successful return.
Drobnjak said Croatia would continue contributing to the regional
cooperation and the building of good neighbourly relations as well
as continue actively participating in different regional
organisations and the Stability Pact for South-East Europe.
Drobnjak was interested in EU's financial assistance and the
opening of a programme of the European Investment Bank for
Croatia.
Barbaso said the economic situation in Croatia would be assessed
after the EC Mission returned to Brussels, the statement read.
(hina) mm rml