BUDAPEST, Nov 25 (Hina) - The declaration adopted at the Zagreb Summit marks a new beginning in relations between countries participating in the Stabilisation and Association Process and Yugoslavia's attendance at the summit has given
a new dimension to relations between the countries of the region, Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said in Budapest on Saturday.
BUDAPEST, Nov 25 (Hina) - The declaration adopted at the Zagreb
Summit marks a new beginning in relations between countries
participating in the Stabilisation and Association Process and
Yugoslavia's attendance at the summit has given a new dimension to
relations between the countries of the region, Croatian Prime
Minister Ivica Racan said in Budapest on Saturday. #L#
"The final document represents an entirely new beginning in
relations between countries participating in the process of
stabilisation and association with the EU. Participation of the
Yugoslav leadership in the Zagreb Summit has given a completely new
dimension to relations between countries in the region and put an
end to a period of instability and crisis," Racan said in his
address to a Central European Initiative (CEI) summit.
"The Summit represents a new path toward the EU for all countries
participating in the Stabilisation and Association Process," Racan
said, adding he hoped Croatia would conclude a Stabilisation and
Association Agreement (SAA) before summer 2001.
The Croatian premier also welcomed the changes in Yugoslavia
stressing the country was expected to give its contribution to
peace and stability in the region.
"We are aware that the process of normalisation and democratisation
in that country after the fall of the regime of Slobodan Milosevic
will be neither easy nor speedy. Croatia wants to contribute to it
as much as it can, but it (process) is primarily for Serbia's
democratic forces to deal with," Racan said.
The normalisation of relations between Croatia and Yugoslavia will
depend not only on Milosevic's ouster but also on that process, he
said.
Racan also addressed Croatia's participation in the CEI,
expressing a wish for the Initiative to contribute to the
stabilisation of relations in the region.
He assessed that there is sufficient space as well as the need for
the cooperation in the region to continue and intensify.
Racan today met his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban, with whom
he discussed cooperation in the reconstruction of the northern
Adriatic port of Rijeka and the conclusion of talks on a free trade
zone.
"I believe we are approaching the end of talks on a free trade
agreement," Racan said.
Croatia's Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic, who is participating
in an economic forum within the CEI summit, said yesterday he
believed the free trade agreement would be signed by the end of this
year and go into force at the beginning of the next year.
Racan said the Hungarian premier could pay an official visit to
Croatia after the signing of the agreement on free trade.
Asked about the possible merger of Croatia's INA oil company and
Hungary's MOL, Racan said it depended on the process of
reorganisation and privatisation Croatia was facing. "Only after
that process is completed, which could happen early next year, will
we be able to talk about cooperation projects, including the merger
of INA and MOL," he said.
(hina) rml