FLORENCE, May 24 (Hina) - NATO member-countries' Foreign Ministers on Wednesday greeted democratic changes that have taken place in Croatia since historic parliamentary and presidential elections. According to an extensive closing
statement issued after the NATO foreign ministers held a session in Florence, Italy, the ministers urged Zagreb to accelerate its reform programme which can inspire other countries in the region that are still not a part of the EuroAtlantic community. The NATO ministers also welcomed the improvement of the ties between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and said they were glad that Croatia had begun to implement the Dayton agreements, speed refugee returns without discrimination, cooperate with the ICTY and boost the regional security. The ministers expressed pleasure with Croatia's admission into the Partnership for Peace programme. According to the 14-page document, the Allies' foreign
FLORENCE, May 24 (Hina) - NATO member-countries' Foreign Ministers
on Wednesday greeted democratic changes that have taken place in
Croatia since historic parliamentary and presidential elections.
According to an extensive closing statement issued after the NATO
foreign ministers held a session in Florence, Italy, the ministers
urged Zagreb to accelerate its reform programme which can inspire
other countries in the region that are still not a part of the
EuroAtlantic community.
The NATO ministers also welcomed the improvement of the ties
between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and said they were glad
that Croatia had begun to implement the Dayton agreements, speed
refugee returns without discrimination, cooperate with the ICTY
and boost the regional security.
The ministers expressed pleasure with Croatia's admission into the
Partnership for Peace programme.
According to the 14-page document, the Allies' foreign ministers
pointed to their commitment to fulfilling goals from the Security
Council's resolution on Kosovo.
They supported the work of the International War Criminal Tribunal
for former Yugoslavia (ICTY), voiced readiness to fully implement
the Dayton accords in Bosnia, and applauded the recent municipal
elections in that country. The NATO ministers, however, underlined
that the main problems were unsolved - the recovery of economy and
the return of refugees to Bosnia.
NATO expressed concern over the situation in the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia and over the continued tension between the Belgrade
regime and democratically elected authorities in Montenegro.
(hina) jn ms