ZAGREB, Oct 9 (Hina) - The initiative by special UN envoy for the Balkans, Carl Bildt, on a regional approach to countries of the Southeast Europe should not be overestimated, nor underestimated, president of the Democratic Centre
(DC) party and former Croatian foreign ministry of many years, Mate Granic, told Monday's news conference. Granic holds that Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica does not have to apologise to the Croatian people for aggression in order for hi to attend the upcoming Zagreb Summit, because the meeting is going to be multinational. Kostunica should offer apologies if he pays a visit to Croatia, Granic said. Bildt's initiative envisages the stabilisation and equalising of the situation in the region, followed by including the entire region in European associations. Croatia, Granic stressed, should advocate regional cooperation, but also an individual approach of certain countries i
BILDT'S INITIATIVE SHOULD NOT BE UNDERESTIMATED -- MATE GRANIC
ZAGREB, Oct 9 (Hina) - The initiative by special UN envoy for the
Balkans, Carl Bildt, on a regional approach to countries of the
Southeast Europe should not be overestimated, nor underestimated,
president of the Democratic Centre (DC) party and former Croatian
foreign ministry of many years, Mate Granic, told Monday's news
conference.
Granic holds that Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica does not
have to apologise to the Croatian people for aggression in order for
hi to attend the upcoming Zagreb Summit, because the meeting is
going to be multinational.
Kostunica should offer apologies if he pays a visit to Croatia,
Granic said.
Bildt's initiative envisages the stabilisation and equalising of
the situation in the region, followed by including the entire
region in European associations.
Croatia, Granic stressed, should advocate regional cooperation,
but also an individual approach of certain countries in the region
to the EU.
Although Bildt's initiative is an unofficial one, it has been
submitted to UN Security Council member-countries, so it could
influence the formation of the international community's final
policy towards Croatia, Granic said, reiterating that
representatives of the Croatian government and diplomatic circles
should voice their opinion about it.
Granic informed the Croatian public about the document last Friday
and called on government representatives to take on a stance
towards it.
Granic holds that Belgrade and other countries in the region would
be happy with Bildt's model of a regional accession into European
associations, but its adoption would mostly depend on Croatia.
DC vice-president Vesna Skare Ozbolt said the DC parliament party
bench had requested a session of the parliament's committee for
foreign affairs to discuss the situation in the region, initiatives
such as Bildt's and the upcoming Zagreb Summit of the European Union
and countries of the so-called western Balkans.
(hina) lml jn