ZAGREB, Sept 8 (Hina) - The head of the Croatian parliament delegation at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Nikola Obuljen, on Wednesday said the results of a report by the Council of Europe delegation, which is visiting
Croatia, could include better relations with international financial institutions, a better treatment of Croatia regarding the European Union, and support for infrastructure projects of common interest.
ZAGREB, Sept 8 (Hina) - The head of the Croatian parliament
delegation at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Nikola
Obuljen, on Wednesday said the results of a report by the Council of
Europe delegation, which is visiting Croatia, could include better
relations with international financial institutions, a better
treatment of Croatia regarding the European Union, and support for
infrastructure projects of common interest. #L#
Obuljen made the statement following talks between the Committee
for Economy, Development and Reconstruction of the Croatian Sabor
and a delegation of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly,
which is on a three-day visit to Croatia.
"I expect from this report better relations with international
financial institutions, primarily with the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank", Obuljen told
reporters after the meeting at the Parliament building.
Also, speedier access to the Central European Free Trade Agreement
and the World Trade Organisation and support for infrastructure
projects of common interest, such as "the Adriatic road or the road
Ploce-Budapest", are to be expected, he added.
The visit of the Council of Europe delegation is part of a tour of
the region, aimed at establishing the economic consequences of the
Kosovo crisis and NATO attacks on Yugoslavia. The delegation is
also to visit Montenegro, Kosovo, and Macedonia.
According to the head of the delegation and rapporteur of the
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly committee for economic
issues and development, Evgeny Kirilov, the mission is aimed at
establishing facts regarding the post-war reconstruction and
development of south-east European countries.
Prior to the meeting with Croatian parliamentarians, the Council of
Europe delegation held a series of meetings with officials from the
ministries of foreign affairs, culture, economy, tourism, maritime
affairs, communications and transport, and agriculture and
forestry.
Kirilov described all meetings as very informative. Discussed were
future steps regarding the Stability Pact and the overall
development of the region, Kirilov said.
All countries in the region should make efforts to contribute to the
security and stability of the region through cooperation, he
added.
The president of the Croatian Parliament Committee for Economy,
Development, and Reconstruction, Dragan Kovacevic, said the
European parliamentarians were informed of Croatia's wish for
liberalisation and more foreign investments, as well as for its
access into economic associations, such as the CEFTA or the WTO.
"In this we seek more help from the international community, which
despite great promises, failed in the case of NATO operation in
Yugoslavia, that is, the damage Croatia's economy has suffered
directly or indirectly", said Kovacevic.
The Council of Europe delegation was also informed about Croatia's
stand that requests of the international community toward Croatia
should be more realistic given the country's political and economic
transition.
The Council of Europe delegation this afternoon flew to Dubrovnik,
from where they are to leave for Montenegro tomorrow.
(hina) rml