BRIEF HISTORY OF ZAGREB SUMMIT IDEA

ZAGREB, Nov 21 (Hina) - A month before France assumed presidency over the European Union on July 1, President Jacques Chirac first mentioned in public his notion of a "summit of the EU and countries of the ex-Yugoslavia," soon to become a reality. "We should follow the latest events in Croatia, applaud Macedonia's efforts, take note of progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina, encourage them all with a more benevolent policy on EU's part and remind Yugoslavia that Europe's doors will open as soon as it takes the direction of the other countries," Chirac had told a May 30 session of the West European Union's Parliamentary Assembly, when he first mentioned and explained the need of such a summit. The initiative was first accepted by EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security, Javier Solana. Chirac spoke about his notion in more detail later in June, at the last session of EU leaders under Portugal's presidency. He suggested the summit should take place in Zagreb, and for the first time said invitations would be sent some Balkan countries, using the term "countries of the Western Balkans." Slovenia belongs to that group, he said, "but is in a special position in relation to Europe" and would not be invited "unless it expresses the desire to participate." Chirac suggested representatives of Montenegro's government should be invited, and as observers, the leaders of Serbia's then Opposition. Once France assumed presidency, the EU Council of Ministers adopted Chirac's initiative. Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Austria suggested invitations should also be sent to other EU candidates, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Bulgaria. France, however, said no. "Paris is more inclined to the initial list of candidates, namely the independent states created from the ex-Yugoslavia. There's no need to expand the conference to the level of the Stability Pact, French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine had said. "The goal of the conference would be to clarify... the guidelines of EU's long-term policy in the stabilisation of the Western Balkans, and EU's reciprocal arrangements with each of the region's countries. In this, the EU would reaffirm its access principle that each of the region's countries' approaching depends on the progress they individually make in political and economic reforms." Croatia's first reaction was one of caution. Prime Minister Ivica Racan said in early July he expected the summit idea would become more specific, "and then Croatia's stand will be clearer." From the very start, official Zagreb advocated that the participants in the summit, besides EU countries, should cross Balkan borders. Only a few weeks later, official European circles had the formula for the summit - the leaders of 15 EU countries and four under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), Slovenia, and representatives of Montenegro's government and Serbia's then Opposition. The democratic changes which occurred in Serbia after early October's elections resulted in its being invited to the summit as the fifth state under SAA. This, however, brought into question the participation of Montenegro's president Djukanovic. In the meantime, Croatia was given additional information and assurance from Paris and Brussels, agreed to the usefulness of the Zagreb conference and, as Racan then said, shed all reserves to the summit. Today, it goes without saying that this Friday, Croatia and its capital will be the political centre of Europe. The Zagreb Summit will be accompanied by a major event for Croatia, the beginning of negotiations on SAA. Zagreb will welcome 25 delegations. Besides those mentioned above, there are Brussels envoys Javier Solana, Romano Prodi, and Chris Patten, Bernard Kouchner of UN's Mission to Kosovo, High Representative in Bosnia Wolfgang Petrisch, and the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe's coordinator, Bodo Hombach. (hina) ha