NEW YORK, Sept 14 (Hina) - Croatia's foreign minister on Wednesday held meetings with counterparts from France and South Africa on preparations for a Stability Pact for Southeast Europe November summit in Zagreb and its topic, the
situation in the region. "We discussed the political content of the conference and the fact that it should demonstrate the policy the European Union has towards Southeast Europe," Croatia's Tonino Picula told reporters after meeting France's Hubert Vedrine and South Africa's Nkosazan Dlamini Zuma. Conceived by French President Jacques Chirac, the Zagreb summit has been scheduled for November 24. Within two weeks, task forces of the Croatian and French foreign ministries should start drafting a final document. "We expect the (Zagreb summit) to ratify the process of stabilisation and association on the highest level, namely the right of countries which haven't institu
NEW YORK, Sept 14 (Hina) - Croatia's foreign minister on Wednesday
held meetings with counterparts from France and South Africa on
preparations for a Stability Pact for Southeast Europe November
summit in Zagreb and its topic, the situation in the region.
"We discussed the political content of the conference and the fact
that it should demonstrate the policy the European Union has
towards Southeast Europe," Croatia's Tonino Picula told reporters
after meeting France's Hubert Vedrine and South Africa's Nkosazan
Dlamini Zuma.
Conceived by French President Jacques Chirac, the Zagreb summit has
been scheduled for November 24. Within two weeks, task forces of the
Croatian and French foreign ministries should start drafting a
final document.
"We expect the (Zagreb summit) to ratify the process of
stabilisation and association on the highest level, namely the
right of countries which haven't institutionalised their relations
with the EU yet to make headway based on firmly defined rules," said
the Croatian foreign minister.
He added Croatia's diplomacy would continue insisting that each
country's achievements be evaluated on an individual basis and
attempt to "also set a time framework" for joining the EU.
Minister Picula on Wednesday also attended a meeting at Vedrine's
with counterparts from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, and
Slovenia. The ministers from four successor states to the former
Yugoslav federation also held a meeting with South African
counterpart Zuma, current chairman of the non-aligned movement.
The meeting addressed political stability in Southeast Europe,
focusing on the situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The foreign ministers of Croatia, BH, Macedonia, and Slovenia told
Vedrine and Zuma that FRY, the fifth successor to the former
Yugoslav federation, could not be privileged and automatically
earn status and rights in international bodies.
Discussing the situation in FRY ahead of upcoming elections, Picula
said Croatia was willing to contribute to the elections' stability
"in line with its possibilities." He added, however, that "every
people chooses its political destiny at polling stations."
(hina) ha