ZAGREB, Oct 6 (Hina) - Austria and Croatia will continue advocating the strengthening of their already very good relations, while Vienna will fully support Croatia's endeavours to join the European Union, the two countries officials
said in Zagreb on Friday. "Austria strongly supports Croatia's aspiration to join the EU as it supported Croatia's struggle for independence. Our two countries are nurturing genuine good-neighbourly relations, which is actually the right European policy," Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel told reporters. He said Croatia was a "good example of how to successfully undergo transformation, and as a country of stability, peace, and democracy, it may serve as an example in this part of the Balkans." Schuessel is hopeful an impending EU summit in Zagreb will acknowledge Croatia and its government for the changes which have taken place since elections early in the year. "I believe the
AUSTRIA SUPPORTS CROATIA'S ENDEAVOURS TO JOIN EU
ZAGREB, Oct 6 (Hina) - Austria and Croatia will continue advocating
the strengthening of their already very good relations, while
Vienna will fully support Croatia's endeavours to join the European
Union, the two countries officials said in Zagreb on Friday.
"Austria strongly supports Croatia's aspiration to join the EU as
it supported Croatia's struggle for independence. Our two
countries are nurturing genuine good-neighbourly relations, which
is actually the right European policy," Austrian chancellor
Wolfgang Schuessel told reporters.
He said Croatia was a "good example of how to successfully undergo
transformation, and as a country of stability, peace, and
democracy, it may serve as an example in this part of the Balkans."
Schuessel is hopeful an impending EU summit in Zagreb will
acknowledge Croatia and its government for the changes which have
taken place since elections early in the year.
"I believe the elections in Croatia contributed to the latest
developments in Belgrade more than last year's bombs," he said.
Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said: "Croatia's interest is
good cooperation with Austria, which has a deep tradition in common
with Croatia, as well as the strong support to Croatia's struggle
for independence."
Today's talks also addressed intensifying cooperation in several
economic fields, tourism in particular.
Racan said the case of the sale of Vecernji list, Croatia's largest
circulation daily, to Austrian concern Styria might be resolved
soon.
He also thanked for an Austrian 11 million shilling donation for
eastern Croatia.
Schuessel's visit was the first by an Austrian chancellor since
Croatia gained independence in the early 1990s. He will later be
received by President Stipe Mesic and parliamentary speaker Zlatko
Tomcic.
(hina) ha jn