ZAGREB, May 17 (Hina) - The Yugoslav crisis is not only obstructing the economic development but it also "poses a threat in the long run for the political stability of Croatia and other neighbouring countries", Croatian European
Integration Minister Ljerka Mintas-Hodak said during her talks with the state secretary in the Finnish Foreign Ministry, Jukka Valtasaari, in Zagreb on Monday. It is therefore important for the European Union to engage as much as possible in finding a solution to the Kosovo crisis and in stabilising the region, Mintas-Hodak said, discussing the role of Finland as the next country to chair the EU and problems it will face, from the situation in south-east Europe to the strengthening of its legal mechanisms. Croatia wants the situation in the region to be solved as soon as possible, and this applies particularly to the Stability Pact, Mintas-Hodak said. "Croatia hopes
ZAGREB, May 17 (Hina) - The Yugoslav crisis is not only obstructing
the economic development but it also "poses a threat in the long run
for the political stability of Croatia and other neighbouring
countries", Croatian European Integration Minister Ljerka Mintas-
Hodak said during her talks with the state secretary in the Finnish
Foreign Ministry, Jukka Valtasaari, in Zagreb on Monday.
It is therefore important for the European Union to engage as much
as possible in finding a solution to the Kosovo crisis and in
stabilising the region, Mintas-Hodak said, discussing the role of
Finland as the next country to chair the EU and problems it will
face, from the situation in south-east Europe to the strengthening
of its legal mechanisms.
Croatia wants the situation in the region to be solved as soon as
possible, and this applies particularly to the Stability Pact,
Mintas-Hodak said.
"Croatia hopes for the establishment of peace, because although it
supports the NATO operation in Yugoslavia, it has suffered damage
amounting to about US$1.7 billion", she said, adding the country
needed stability and intensive economic development, which could
not be achieved without EU's help.
The only factor of instability in the region is Yugoslavia and its
current regime, Mintas-Hodak said, adding this was one of the
reasons why Croatia could not complete its transition process.
"Therefore I can say that the area is not unstable, because other
countries of south-east Europe are stable from the point of view of
both their policies and security", she said, adding Croatia was
being unjustly placed on the same level with Yugoslavia when it came
to admission to the EU.
Finland's Valtasaari said finding a diplomatic way out of the
Kosovo crisis would be one of the priorities of Finland's mandate
and Finland will try to mediate as successfully as possible in the
dialogue of opposed parties.
The Kosovo crisis has placed the region into EU's interest focus,
and Finland, which starts chairing the EU as of July 1, will do all
in its power to contribute to solving problems regarding Croatia's
drawing closer to the EU, the Finnish official said.
(hina) rml