ZAGREB, Sept 4 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan and his first deputy Goran Granic held talks in Zagreb on Monday with a delegation of the EastWest Institute's Advisory Committee on Southeast Europe on the situation in Croatia seven
months after January's parliamentary elections and the institute's activities. The institute's advisory committee is to hold its first inaugural meeting in Zagreb today. Prime Minister Racan acquainted the delegation with the steps the Croatian government took over the past seven months in view of clearing the serious situation it had encountered in the economy, state institutions, the media, and foreign affairs, a government statement said on today's talks. Aware of Croatia's geo-strategic position, the government has done a lot to redefine Croatia's foreign affairs and position, the prime minister said. He mentioned access to the World Trade Organisation, NATO's
ZAGREB, Sept 4 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan and his first
deputy Goran Granic held talks in Zagreb on Monday with a delegation
of the EastWest Institute's Advisory Committee on Southeast Europe
on the situation in Croatia seven months after January's
parliamentary elections and the institute's activities.
The institute's advisory committee is to hold its first inaugural
meeting in Zagreb today.
Prime Minister Racan acquainted the delegation with the steps the
Croatian government took over the past seven months in view of
clearing the serious situation it had encountered in the economy,
state institutions, the media, and foreign affairs, a government
statement said on today's talks.
Aware of Croatia's geo-strategic position, the government has done
a lot to redefine Croatia's foreign affairs and position, the prime
minister said. He mentioned access to the World Trade Organisation,
NATO's Partnership for Peace programme, active participation in
the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, and the impending
commencement of negotiations with the European Union on a
stabilisation and association agreement.
Finland's former president and co-chairman of EWI's board of
directors Martti Ahtisaari said he was very pleased with the
changes which ensued after the January election, and acquainted
Prime Minister Racan with the EWI advisory board's objectives.
The advisory board comprises high-ranking public figures and
individuals from the region and the international community. It
will focus on adapting western assistance to local needs and
priorities, creating a peace and security support network,
promoting democratic values and economic priorities, shaping and
supporting civil society, and promoting regional cooperation.
EWI was established in 1981. Based in New York, it has branch
offices in Moscow, Kiev, Prague, and Kaliningrad, and directs its
activity towards East and Southeast Europe, including Russia and
the Ukraine.
EWI is the partner of numerous governments and organisations, and
has signed a partnership agreement with the World Bank. It is the
active participant in the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe's
first and third round tables - on human rights and security issues.
With the Canadian International Development Agency it is working on
a regional strategy study analysing Stability Pact activity in
those two tables.
(hina) ha jn