VIENNA, Nov 27 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula on Monday conveyed the satisfaction of the Croatian government with the constant reduction of the OSCE Mission in Croatia and announced a possibility for the mission to
be completed by the end of next year, calling on the OSCE to establish an extensive mission in Yugoslavia.
VIENNA, Nov 27 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula on
Monday conveyed the satisfaction of the Croatian government with
the constant reduction of the OSCE Mission in Croatia and announced
a possibility for the mission to be completed by the end of next
year, calling on the OSCE to establish an extensive mission in
Yugoslavia. #L#
Picula is one of 53 foreign ministers from OSCE member-countries
attending a two-day ministerial meeting in Vienna on Monday and
Tuesday.
As regards the future of the OSCE Mission in Croatia, we are
satisfied with the continual reduction of its staff, Picula said
addressing the meeting.
The Croatian government understands OSCE's interest in monitoring
the upcoming local elections in Croatia, but next year the
Government will double its efforts to resolve the outstanding
issues which are the subject of OSCE's mandate in Croatia, he said.
The results Croatia has achieved in its internal policy and in the
region are visible, Picula said, adding this was confirmed by other
speakers at the ministerial meeting.
We would like the trend of reduction to resume in 2001 as well and
that the end of the Mission's presence on the ground in 2001 is
envisaged, Picula said.
We would like to experience the same confidence in the competence
and intentions of our Government as was demonstrated by the Council
of Europe, when it decided to end its monitoring mission in Croatia,
or by the United Nations, which removed Croatia from its Omnibus
Resolution on Human Rights, he said.
Emphasising the stability of vulnerable new countries in
transition as the basic security problem of today's Europe, Picula
said the OSCE had made its major achievements under Austria's
chairmanship in South-East Europe.
That is why Croatia will continue to be a constructive partner to
the international community in joint efforts to strengthen
stability and cooperation in those countries in the region which
have covered only one half of the way or are at the beginning of that
process, Picula said and called on the OSCE to establish a mission
in Yugoslavia.
We can see from our own experience that we have benefited most from
that cooperation and that is why we advocate a strong OSCE presence
not only on the territory of Kosovo but elsewhere in Yugoslavia so
that democratic institutions could be established and human and
minority rights and internal and regional stability achieved.
The Croatian foreign minister congratulated Austria as the country
chairing the OSCE on its skilfulness in resolving the sensitive
issue of Yugoslavia's membership in the OSCE.
Respecting the equality of all former Yugoslav republics in the
process of succession will prevent future conflicts and
instability in the region, he said.
Picula believes Croatia and Yugoslavia must increase efforts to
resolve the problem of war crimes, refugees and missing persons,
minority rights, economic cooperation, succession and others, as
well as that the two countries share responsibility and
international commitments regarding the stability, integrity and
democratisation of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Picula also stressed that a strong international presence,
including the OSCE Mission, was still needed in Bosnia-
Herzegovina, and announced on behalf of the Government that the
partnership with the international community in establishing state
institutions in and stabilising Bosnia-Herzegovina would resume.
We are aware that most of our regional obligations lie in that
process, Picula said.
He also mentioned a recent election in Bosnia-Herzegovina, saying
its results could have been better, had there been no changes to
electoral rules, which resulted in Croats' gathering around more
radical parties.
Picula expressed most concern about the slow progress in the
resolution of almost all problems in the Bosnian Serb entity.
At the end of his speech, the foreign minister expressed conviction
that the current situation in the region called for the investment
of new efforts within the Stability Pact, and, most of all, for a
stronger influx of international assistance for that purpose.
(hina) rml