ZAGREB, June 21 (Hina) - Deputy Croatian Foreign Minister Ivo Sanader on Monday received a delegation of the Italian Parliament's Committee for foreign policies headed by committee president Achille Occhetto, the Croatian Foreign
Minister reported. It was mutually concluded that relations between Croatia and Italy were very good and that intensive efforts by both countries have set sound foundations for further development of all round relations. Sanader informed the parliamentary delegation of the current political situation in Croatia, emphasising the firm stand by Croatia to access European and transatlantic integration as soon as possible, the statement read. Deputy Foreign Minister Sanader informed his guests of Croatia's attitude with regard to resolving the Kosovo crisis, stressing that Croatia offered full support for NATO air strikes however, at the same time, fully supporting all efforts to end
ZAGREB, June 21 (Hina) - Deputy Croatian Foreign Minister Ivo
Sanader on Monday received a delegation of the Italian Parliament's
Committee for foreign policies headed by committee president
Achille Occhetto, the Croatian Foreign Minister reported.
It was mutually concluded that relations between Croatia and Italy
were very good and that intensive efforts by both countries have set
sound foundations for further development of all round relations.
Sanader informed the parliamentary delegation of the current
political situation in Croatia, emphasising the firm stand by
Croatia to access European and transatlantic integration as soon as
possible, the statement read.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sanader informed his guests of Croatia's
attitude with regard to resolving the Kosovo crisis, stressing that
Croatia offered full support for NATO air strikes however, at the
same time, fully supporting all efforts to end the conflict and to
seek out a peaceful resolution.
In this regard, Croatia actively participated in the establishment
of the Stability Pact and expects its implementation in the near
future so that it can strengthen the new international order in
these regions and so that following ten years of crisis and war,
finally peace could reign in the region.
Croatia also expects to be recompensed for damages caused during
the NATO air strikes, Sanader said.
By the same token, Croatia believes that by the year's end, it will
access membership to the World Trade Organisation and that by
autumn already negotiations would begin with the European Union
regarding the Agreement on Stability and Access as well as being
included into the Partnership for Peace Programme, the statement
continued.
Croatia, believes it will gain Italy's support in these endeavours,
Sanader said.
He further informed his Italian guests about the recent agreement
between the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and opposition
parties regarding the election law. Sanader stressed that since its
independence, Croatia opted for strengthening and developing a
democratic system alongside a strong economy and Croatian state
interests, the statement said.
The president of the Italian committee, Mr. Occhetto thanked
Sanader for his resourceful information and further expressed his
satisfaction with the positive advancement noticed in Croatia,
highlighting that Italy will continue to attempt to strengthen good
neighbourly relations. It will continue to support Croatia's
attempts to access Euro-Atlantic integration seeing that it has
affirmed its position as a stable state and a factor of security in t
these regions, the press release concluded.
(hina) sp