ZAGREB, Nov 6 (Hina) - Croatia will be admitted to the European Union as soon as it fulfils its obligations and the purpose of the Stability Pact is not to prevent countries in south-east Europe from entering the EU, German President
Johannes Rau said in an interview with 'Slobodna Dalmacija' daily on Saturday. "The country applying (for membership) will be admitted as soon as it fulfils its obligations. You need not fear that the Pact is some kind of a conclave the purpose of which is to keep the countries outside of the EU," Rau said. Germany wants to see the situation in south-east Europe restored to normal as soon as possible and is therefore insisting on the Stability Pact, he said. "We want to see the Pact operate and assistance being delivered to the region through the Pact," Rau said, adding there was no alternative to the process of Europeanisation as the countries of the Balkans had a Euro
ZAGREB, Nov 6 (Hina) - Croatia will be admitted to the European
Union as soon as it fulfils its obligations and the purpose of the
Stability Pact is not to prevent countries in south-east Europe
from entering the EU, German President Johannes Rau said in an
interview with 'Slobodna Dalmacija' daily on Saturday.
"The country applying (for membership) will be admitted as soon as
it fulfils its obligations. You need not fear that the Pact is some
kind of a conclave the purpose of which is to keep the countries
outside of the EU," Rau said.
Germany wants to see the situation in south-east Europe restored to
normal as soon as possible and is therefore insisting on the
Stability Pact, he said.
"We want to see the Pact operate and assistance being delivered to
the region through the Pact," Rau said, adding there was no
alternative to the process of Europeanisation as the countries of
the Balkans had a European tradition.
He announced that German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder would attend
the Zagreb summit on November 24.
Commenting on the recent changes in Belgrade, the German president
said development in Serbia deserved to be supported after the
peaceful changes.
"We are therefore not insisting on some other problems. But
certainly the same principles agreed on within the EU and U.N. refer
to the prosecution of crimes as well. No one can avoid it," he said.
Asked whether the rules for the reintegration into the
international community for Serbia would be the same as those for
Croatia, Rau said the most important thing at the moment was for
Serbia to be included in the Stability Pact and the final goal
should "be a united Europe in which all countries meet the required
conditions."
Speaking about the Croatian-German relations, Rau said the fact
that he had met Croatian President Stipe Mesic three times since he
had taken his office 16 months ago was a sign of good relations. Rau
also expressed a wish for those relations to be strengthened.
(hina) rml