PICULA BEFORE UPPER HOUSE: CROATIA'S STRATEGIC GOAL IS TO JOIN EU

ZAGREB, Dec 13 (Hina) - Croatia's strategic goals and its future are joining Euro-Atlantic integration, which is entirely supported by citizens, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said before the Croatian parliament's House of Counties on Wednesday. Picula paid particular attention to the Zagreb Summit, organised by Croatia and the European Union. The Foreign Minister said the Zagreb Summit was an important event for Croatia because of a conclusion on the respect of principles of individual approach to Euro-Atlantic integration. "However, the most important thing for us is that it was decided start negotiations with Croatia on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement", Picula stressed. "Croatia aims at joining athe 12+1 group of countries (12 candidate countries for joining the European Union plus Turkey) as soon as possible, the Croatian Foreign Minister said. He added Croatia must make up for short comings in comparison with other countries in transition in preparations for the integration process. Picula said cooperation with countries in transition was very important because of their experience which could help Croatia in the implementation of reforms necessary for joining the European Union. Picula also talked about Croatia's relations with neighbouring countries. "The solving of problems with neighbours is the shortest way to Euro-Atlantic Integration", Minister Picula said. Speaking about achievement in this year, Picula stressed Croatia had become more active in Europe and the world and it gained a "positive image". A lot has been done in foreign policy, Picula said and reminded Croatia had joined and become an active member of the partnership for Peace programme. Croatia also joined the World Trade Organisation, the Foreign Minister added. The monitoring process in Croatia is completed and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is reduced, Picula said and added Croatia had improved its relations with countries in the region. When asked to comment on cooperation between Croatia and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Picula said the cooperation was "our reality". "We believed that after the passing of a declaration on cooperation with the Tribunal, the cooperation would be conducted only through legal issues, and not political, as it was the case so far", Picula said. "However, we must reiterate our standpoints regarding the cooperation with the Hague Tribunal", Picula said and added "we do not wish to be liked at any cost". Commenting on cooperation with neighbouring countries, Picula said it was being shown in different form of cooperation - the Stability pact for Southeast Europe, the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, and the Quadrilateral group (Hungary, Slovenia, Italy and Croatia). According to the Croatian Foreign Minister, Croatia and its neighbours have joint interests. "However, we will not allow that Croatia be identified with only one region", Picula stressed. So far, Croatia has been referred to as a Southeaster European country, but Croatia is also a Mediterranean and a central European country. Commenting on relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Picula said Zagreb must not give up on Croats in that neighbouring country, however, relations towards them must be transparent. Croatia welcomed changes in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, however, we are only expecting first results of Yugoslavia's new policy. According to Picula, the priority of Croatia's new policy is economic diplomacy. He added Croatia needed to work more on economic relations with the European Union. "I need to stress that the return of refugees has not been entirely implemented (only 400 refugees have returned to the Banja Luka region), not all problems of the aggression have been solved, including the mine removal, due to lack of funds", Picula said and added. (hina) it