COPENHAGEN, July 4 (Hina) - The admission of Croatia and other former Socialist central European countries to the European Union would strengthen the position of small countries in the Union, what perhaps worries bigger
member-countries and causes the EU's reserved stand towards its enlargement, Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan told the Danish daily "Jylland Posten".
COPENHAGEN, July 4 (Hina) - The admission of Croatia and other
former Socialist central European countries to the European Union
would strengthen the position of small countries in the Union, what
perhaps worries bigger member-countries and causes the EU's
reserved stand towards its enlargement, Croatian Prime Minister
Ivica Racan told the Danish daily "Jylland Posten".#L#
On Tuesday afternoon the Croatian PM is to fly to Copenhagen on a
two-day official visit to Denmark. Prior to his visit, Racan gave an
interview to the Monday's issue of the Danish daily "Jyllands
Posten".
Commenting on the relations between Croatia and the EU, the
Croatian Premier said coldness could be felt between the EU and
central Europe as if the EU did not want to enlarge itself.
He stressed that there was no reason for fear and assessed that the
entry of Croatia and other central European countries into the EU
would boost democracy and strengthen other small countries that are
EU members.
Racan said the new Croatian authorities did not intend to follow the
wrong stand of the former President Franjo Tudjman who, according
to him, asserted that he was a European but at the same time used to
quarrel with Europe and claimed that civilisation finished at
(eastern) frontiers of Croatia.
Racan views Croatia as a part of central Europe, the Mediterranean
and the Balkans simultaneously.
(hina) jn ms