ZAGREB SUMMIT FOR CROATIAN RADIO ZAGREB, Nov 27 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Monday commented on last Friday's Zagreb Summit and its declaration in the context of Croatia's approaching potential membership in the
European Union. "What we want and what the Summit, too, recognises, is the individual approach, and for Croatia to participate in a kind of a regatta in which the first country to fulfil the necessary conditions will be the first country to access the EU," Mesic said in an interview to Croatian Radio. The President expressed confidence that Croatia could join the EU at the end of his mandate or little later. At the Zagreb Summit the EU has given the rules in line with which countries would be admitted, he said. "Croatia has accepted those rules and has been informed that there will be no collective admission, but each country will be able to count on EU membership once it has met its standards." According to Mesic,
ZAGREB, Nov 27 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Monday
commented on last Friday's Zagreb Summit and its declaration in the
context of Croatia's approaching potential membership in the
European Union.
"What we want and what the Summit, too, recognises, is the
individual approach, and for Croatia to participate in a kind of a
regatta in which the first country to fulfil the necessary
conditions will be the first country to access the EU," Mesic said
in an interview to Croatian Radio.
The President expressed confidence that Croatia could join the EU
at the end of his mandate or little later.
At the Zagreb Summit the EU has given the rules in line with which
countries would be admitted, he said.
"Croatia has accepted those rules and has been informed that there
will be no collective admission, but each country will be able to
count on EU membership once it has met its standards."
According to Mesic, the Zagreb meeting has confirmed that there is
no Yugoslav association, as "no one in the region, or Europe and the
world, wants it."
Commenting on the Zagreb Declaration, Mesic said it provided an
answer as to the relationship between the EU and countries aspiring
to join it. It provides rules of the game and urges all to meet
conditions necessary for admission, he added.
The Declaration also speaks about regional cooperation, which is
not in contrast to the individual approach. "Every country must
have good relations with its neighbours and we are conducting such a
policy. We want to have good relations with Serbia on condition that
it undergoes democratisation and fulfils what it is requested to
fulfil," Mesic said.
The Declaration also addresses the need to cooperate with the Hague
war crimes tribunal and hand over war crimes suspects, he said.
Croatia is interested in concluding agreements on the prevention of
illegal border crossings, money laundering, hand-over of criminals
and other issues with neighbouring countries through regional
cooperation.
The EU is Croatia's strategic goal and "we are doing all we can to
achieve it - adjusting to EU's legal regulations and applying
them."
The President welcomed EU's decision to start negotiations with
Croatia on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement at the Zagreb
Summit.
Croatia must adopt a strategy of economic development and create
conditions in which foreign investments will be safe, he said.
After the Zagreb Summit, Croatia should obtain funds from the CARDS
programme and the Stability Pact as well as direct investments by
European and US institutions, which should help increase the
country's exports, he said.
Mesic also commented on a feuilleton in the 'Slobodna Dalmacija'
daily on his testimony before the Hague war crimes tribunal.
Mesic said he testified as a protected witness upon being summonsed
by the Hague tribunal and in line with Croatia's constitutional law
on cooperation with the Hague tribunal.
(hina) rml