ZAGREB, March 11 (Hina) - The basic conditions the European Union presents Croatia with are a reform of electronic media and change to the electoral law, and because Croatia has not fulfilled these conditions, it cannot join the PHARE
Programme, Austrian Ambassador to Croatia, Rudolf Bogner, said in Zagreb on Thursday. "Insisting on a reform of the Croatian Radio and Television and its transformation into a public television originates from Croatia's membership in the Council of Europe, Bogner said during a lecture at the Croatian PanEuropean Union. Pointing out that the special voting list for the Diaspora should be rescinded, Bogner said "the new electoral law should have been passed by now", as this is the election year. "Austria is exerting efforts to support Croatia with the EU, and Croatia must justify these efforts of Austria and other friendly countries, and "implement the mentioned conditions w
ZAGREB, March 11 (Hina) - The basic conditions the European Union
presents Croatia with are a reform of electronic media and change to
the electoral law, and because Croatia has not fulfilled these
conditions, it cannot join the PHARE Programme, Austrian
Ambassador to Croatia, Rudolf Bogner, said in Zagreb on Thursday.
"Insisting on a reform of the Croatian Radio and Television and its
transformation into a public television originates from Croatia's
membership in the Council of Europe, Bogner said during a lecture at
the Croatian PanEuropean Union.
Pointing out that the special voting list for the Diaspora should be
rescinded, Bogner said "the new electoral law should have been
passed by now", as this is the election year.
"Austria is exerting efforts to support Croatia with the EU, and
Croatia must justify these efforts of Austria and other friendly
countries, and "implement the mentioned conditions without delay,"
he stressed.
Croatia often criticises the European Union that it does not
recognise the progress Croatia has achieved, Bogner said.
On the contrary, he stressed, the EU is just towards every country
and its efforts, but is not satisfied with "cosmetic changes".
As regards the return of Serbs to Croatia, Croatia has done a lot,
but a lot still needs to be done so the process of return could
proceed on its course.
If Croatia wants to join European associations, it must fulfil a
number of conditions, primarily fulfil its obligations from the
Dayton Agreement, such as to cooperate with the International
Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Bogner said.
Croatia is also requested to respect human and minority rights, the
division of authority, free and secret elections, cooperation with
neighbouring countries, the opening of the border with Republika
Srpska, and influence over Bosnian Croats to dissolve the remaining
Herzeg-Bosnian institutions.
Nothing is requested of Croatia what is not requested from other
countries, "everybody who wants to join in must respect the rules of
the game," Bogner stressed.
(hina) lml