ZAGREB, Nov 24 (Hina) - The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was admitted to the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative in Zagreb on Friday, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula told reporters today.
ZAGREB, Nov 24 (Hina) - The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was
admitted to the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative in Zagreb on Friday,
Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula told reporters today. #L#
"Today we have unanimously admitted the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia into the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative. We have
particularly welcomed the arrival of Yugoslav Foreign Minister
Goran Svilanovic, who addressed the Council with words announcing
Yugoslavia's active cooperation," Picula said after a session of
the Council of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative held at Zagreb's
"Intercontinental" hotel this morning.
A former chairman of the Initiative, Italian Foreign Minister
Lamberto Dini, said that with Yugoslavia's admission the
Initiative included all Adriatic and Ionian countries.
"Today Croatia has taken over the chairmanship of the Adriatic-
Ionian Initiative from Italy," Picula said, adding Croatia's
presidency over the Initiative would last six months, until a
ministerial meeting, scheduled to take place in Split in May next
year.
The Council of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative was established in
Ancona in May this year at a conference of Adriatic and Ionian
countries, as a body of political dialogue, which meets in line with
the principle of the rotating presidency.
The purpose of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative is to create a
framework for cooperation among countries in the area of the
Adriatic and Ionian seas.
The Initiative was envisaged as a platform for political dialogue
directed towards the development and security of the entire
region.
The Initiative is active through round tables in charge of
different issues, from economic and tourism cooperation to
maritime transport, environmental protection, inter-university
cooperation and prevention of crime.
One of the projects of the Initiative which Croatia strongly
advocates is the construction of an Adriatic-Ionian highway, which
would stimulate the development of all countries it would pass
through.
The original members of the Initiative are Italy, Slovenia, Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Albania, Greece and Croatia. Montenegro had the
observer status at the Ancona conference.
Asked about the status of Montenegro, Picula said the Initiative
had decided on a "mixed stand", so that following the address of the
Yugoslav foreign minister at today's meeting, his Montenegrin
colleague Branko Lukovac also addressed the session, expressing a
wish for the cooperation to resume.
(hina) rml