ZAGREB SUMMIT STILL OPEN ZAGREB, Nov 10 (Hina) - Most delegations participating in the Nov. 24 Zagreb Summit have officially confirmed their arrival, but Montenegro's and Slovenia's participation is still open, the chief of the
Summit's organisation committee said on Friday.
ZAGREB, Nov 10 (Hina) - Most delegations participating in the Nov.
24 Zagreb Summit have officially confirmed their arrival, but
Montenegro's and Slovenia's participation is still open, the chief
of the Summit's organisation committee said on Friday.#L#
France's President Jacques Chirac and Albania's Rexep Meidani have
confirmed their arrival, as have the two countries' foreign
ministers and the prime and foreign ministers of Austria, Denmark,
Finland, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal,
Sweden, and Spain, Neven Madey told a news conference.
As regards neighbouring Slovenia, Croatia still has not received
any note but expects one in the nearest future, he added.
"All countries have received the invitations and all invitations
are identical," he said when asked if Slovenia had been forwarded an
invitation and who would represent it at the Summit.
Slovenian news agency STA said this week President Milan Kucan
would not attend due to other commitments, and that Slovenia had not
received an invitation.
Montenegro's status at the Summit remains open. Croatian Assistant
Foreign Minister Vladimir Drobnjak is optimistic "a way will be
found to enable the arrival of a Montenegrin delegation," but on
condition that provisions of international law are respected, and
that Belgrade-Podgorica relations and Yugoslavia's
constitutional order are taken into account.
We are continuing to look for modalities to make the Montenegrin
delegation participate, said Drobnjak.
According to reports, Kosovo will be represented by civil
administrator Bernard Kouchner, who will not be a member of
Yugoslavia's delegation but join another two international
representatives, High Representative for Bosnia Wolfgang Petrisch
and Stability Pact for Southeast Europe coordinator Bodo Hombach.
The Zagreb Summit will gather 25 delegations, including 15 European
Union representatives, five countries in the process of
stabilisation and association with the EU, Slovenia, the EU's High
Representative for foreign and security issues, Javier Solana,
Petrisch, Hombach, and Kouchner.
Speaking about the Summit's final document, which is being drafted,
Drobnjak said it would accentuate the region's, as well as every
individual country's access to the EU.
The final document will also address the recent changes in
neighbouring Yugoslavia, as well as the democratic development of
Croatia. The political and economic changes in the region will be
placed within the context of the Agreement on Stabilisation and
Association.
The document will take note of each country's prospects of joining
the EU by means of the stabilisation and association process,
Drobnjak further said, adding the final draft would also contain
Europe's expectations of the region.
EU's Solana and French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine yesterday
stopped in Zagreb as part of final preparations for the Summit.
Croatia's representatives said today that on Nov. 20, the Council
of Ministers would adopt a final budget for the Summit, to revolve
around EUR500,000. It will be jointly covered by the EU and
Croatia.
"The principles of financing have to be adjustment to the
importance and scope of the conference, as well as a rational
approach," said Madey.
(hina) ha jn