ZAGREB, July 20 (Hina) - The transformation of the international position of Croatia, which since January 3 has changed from a problem-country into a partner-country, primarily that of the European Union, is unique in modern political
history, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said in an interview in Thursday night's 'Dnevnik plus' programme on Croatian Television, shortly after his return from Montenegro. Picula said some of the credit for this transformation should be attributed to Croatia's active engagement in the region, especially toward Montenegro and, indirectly, toward Serbia. "Croatia has already been rewarded for such activity and it will continue to be rewarded - financially," Picula said. He reiterated that Montenegro and Croatia would sign a protocol on free trade as well as an agreement on the liberalisation of the visa regime, using models which take into consideration the fact that M
ZAGREB, July 20 (Hina) - The transformation of the international
position of Croatia, which since January 3 has changed from a
problem-country into a partner-country, primarily that of the
European Union, is unique in modern political history, Croatian
Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said in an interview in Thursday
night's 'Dnevnik plus' programme on Croatian Television, shortly
after his return from Montenegro.
Picula said some of the credit for this transformation should be
attributed to Croatia's active engagement in the region,
especially toward Montenegro and, indirectly, toward Serbia.
"Croatia has already been rewarded for such activity and it will
continue to be rewarded - financially," Picula said.
He reiterated that Montenegro and Croatia would sign a protocol on
free trade as well as an agreement on the liberalisation of the visa
regime, using models which take into consideration the fact that
Montenegro is not an independent state.
Commenting on Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic's apology for
the suffering of the Croatian people, Picula said the apology could
have been expressed more explicitly, but he was much more
interested in whether the apology would be transformed into a
policy which will make his move sincere.
"I believe this will happen," he added.
Picula also commented on claims, which appeared recently in
domestic and foreign media, that 'the honeymoon' relations between
Croatia and international organisations were nearing their end.
"Our cooperation with the EU, NATO and the WTO denies these claims.
On the contrary, month by month we are intensifying our cooperation
with those organisations."
"I estimate that Croatia will become an EU and NATO member before
the end of the next decade, between 2005 and 2008," Picula said.
Picula announced that early next week more than 30 Croatian
ambassadors and consuls will be relieved of their duties for
different reasons (expiry of mandate, retirement, unsatisfactory
performance).
Commenting on media speculations about his being appointed
ambassador to Washington in the context of the autumn government
reshuffle, Picula said he had no intention of taking up such an
office in Washington or elsewhere.
(hina) rml