SARAJEVO, Nov 23 (Hina) - Friday's Zagreb Summit is direct proof of how much the international community appreciates the democratic changes which have taken place in Croatia and are advocated by its President Stipe Mesic and Prime
Minister Ivica Racan, the High Representative in Bosnia said on Thursday. The Summit clearly indicates the European Union is fully willing to support the efforts of the region's countries aimed at integration into European structures, Wolfgang Petrisch told Hina in Sarajevo before departing for Zagreb. The third important message is the recognition that after the recent changes in Yugoslavia, all countries in the region for the first time in history have democratic governments, which paves the way for a better future of the entire region, he said. Now we have real preconditions which will enable the EU to truly integrate this part of the continent into its structures, the Austrian diplo
SARAJEVO, Nov 23 (Hina) - Friday's Zagreb Summit is direct proof of
how much the international community appreciates the democratic
changes which have taken place in Croatia and are advocated by its
President Stipe Mesic and Prime Minister Ivica Racan, the High
Representative in Bosnia said on Thursday.
The Summit clearly indicates the European Union is fully willing to
support the efforts of the region's countries aimed at integration
into European structures, Wolfgang Petrisch told Hina in Sarajevo
before departing for Zagreb.
The third important message is the recognition that after the
recent changes in Yugoslavia, all countries in the region for the
first time in history have democratic governments, which paves the
way for a better future of the entire region, he said.
Now we have real preconditions which will enable the EU to truly
integrate this part of the continent into its structures, the
Austrian diplomat added.
He believes the Zagreb Summit will provide further proof of the
importance of the previously established Stability Pact for South
Eastern Europe, whose cooperation possibilities, he says, remain
largely unused.
The willingness to cooperate demonstrated by EU countries needs to
be matched by that of countries of Europe's south-east, Petrisch
said.
Asked if it was more realistic to expect the region's countries
would access the EU in a package or individually, he reminded
President Mesic had provided a very good answer last weekend.
Petritsch agrees with Mesic's stance that the countries should
compete for association with the EU "regatta-style" and not be
forced to be part of a convoy. He said it was, however, beyond
dispute that regional cooperation could also contribute to making
everyone a winner in the end. It is a precondition for faster
integration, he stressed.
According to the High Representative, more advanced countries like
Slovenia and Croatia have a special regional responsibility
towards their neighbours. He said that in Bosnia's case, Croatia
had a very important role for the consolidation of peace and
democracy and helping it integrate into Europe.
Croatia also has special obligations to the Bosnian Croat people as
it should strengthen economic and cultural ties with them, he said,
adding this would eventually benefit all three national
communities in Bosnia.
(hina) ha