GRANIC: SKOPJE SUMMIT JOINT STATEMENT IMPORTANT FOR SUCCESSION

ZAGREB, Oct 26 (Hina) - A joint statement by the participants in a recent Skopje Summit is an important decision as it turned succession to the ex-Yugoslavia from a political into a technical issue, First Deputy Premier Goran Granic said on Thursday. The joint statement is the first international document in which Yugoslavia agrees that succession to the former federation will be executed indiscriminately and equally among the six successor states, Granic told today's government session, submitting a report on Croatia's attendance at Wednesday's summit of Southeast Europe countries in the Macedonian capital. Granic said his address at the summit focused on Croatia's position in connection with the succession, the Prevlaka issue, post- election changes in Yugoslavia, and initiatives aimed at formalising some relations in the region. The Zagreb Summit in November, to gather officials of the region and the European Union, will have the chance to tackle other subjects, he said. Granic added a positive atmosphere had dominated the Skopje Summit, which Croatia attended as observer. All participating countries were interested not only in the normalisation of relations, but also in reforms and economic progress, he said. Relations with Yugoslavia will be solved over a longer period of time, the priorities are various, and aspects of future cooperation will be tackled over time, Granic said, adding everything was going to based on conclusions the government recently adopted on Croatia- Yugoslavia relations. The government gave a positive assessment of the Croatian delegation's work in Skopje. (hina) ha