ZAGREB, Jan 28 (Hina) - The Croatian Government on Thursday discussed and adopted a report on the work of the Office for European Integrations for last year and a working programme for 1999. Minister for European integrations, Ljerka
Mintas-Hodak stressed in the report the main task of the office in this year would be to educate young experts and state officials in European associations, information and harmonisation of Croatian laws with European legislature. "Since the very start of creation, the Croatian state has been orientated towards European association," Mintas-Hodak said. She said criticism from abroad and in Croatia that the Government was wrongly orientated and was drawing Croatia further away from European associations was inaccurate. She recalled that in December of 1990, Croatia adopted a decree on adjusting Croatian legislature to European associations, in 1995, everything had been ready for the
ZAGREB, Jan 28 (Hina) - The Croatian Government on Thursday
discussed and adopted a report on the work of the Office for
European Integrations for last year and a working programme for
1999.
Minister for European integrations, Ljerka Mintas-Hodak stressed
in the report the main task of the office in this year would be to
educate young experts and state officials in European
associations, information and harmonisation of Croatian laws with
European legislature.
"Since the very start of creation, the Croatian state has been
orientated towards European association," Mintas-Hodak said.
She said criticism from abroad and in Croatia that the Government
was wrongly orientated and was drawing Croatia further away from
European associations was inaccurate.
She recalled that in December of 1990, Croatia adopted a decree on
adjusting Croatian legislature to European associations, in 1995,
everything had been ready for the signing of the PHARE Programme,
and an agreement on trade with the European Union was near
completion.
Mintas-Hodak said, however, that this had not been implemented
because Croatia had in August of 1995 carried out a military and
police operation, "Storm".
In 1996 the European Union was drawing up the so-called regional
approach, according to which a "Balkan federation" was to be
created, Croatia included. This is unacceptable for Croatia,
Mintas-Hodak stressed.
Foreign Minister Mate Granic stressed certain conditions had been
set for Croatia, by whose fulfilment Croatia has made positive
moves.
"Croatia is a central European country and persists in that
direction," Granic added, expressing conviction that it would
succeed.
The biggest obstacle for Croatia are people who know nothing of our
history and processes, and they are creating standpoints which
cause Croatia immeasurable damage, Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa
said.
To back up his statement, Matesa read several statements from the
'document' on Croatia.
One says that during WWII, a group of Bosniak partisans, led by Tito
fought against Ustashas in Croatia and Chetniks in Serbia".
The other statement says that people who live in the coastal part of
Croatia do not feel as nationalist as in other parts of the
country.
These statements speak for themselves, Matesa said.
He stressed that only through joint efforts can Croatia withstand
such attempts and ignorance.
(hina) lml jn