ZAGREB, Oct 6 (Hina) - Additional consultations in Paris with the French side relative to Croatia's access to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) brought "absolutely no steps forward," Croatian Economy Minister Nenad Porges told Hina
on Wednesday. He added France obviously did not intend to back from its position regarding audio-visual services.
ZAGREB, Oct 6 (Hina) - Additional consultations in Paris with the
French side relative to Croatia's access to the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) brought "absolutely no steps forward," Croatian
Economy Minister Nenad Porges told Hina on Wednesday.
He added France obviously did not intend to back from its position
regarding audio-visual services.#L#
Minister Porges for this reason wrote to WTO managing director Mike
Moore, informing him of the impossibility of reaching agreement
with France, and urging that the WTO Secretariat become involved in
the issue which, said Porges, was not a Croatian issue, but one
between the European Union (UN), namely France, and the United
States.
The Croatian economy minister believes it is possible the WTO Main
Committee meet earlier than planned, on 5 November, to possibly
settle current disagreements between the EU and the U.S. which have
been the reason why Croatia's access to the WTO has been stopped
just prior to the completion of the joining process.
The U.S. urges a liberalisation of audio-visual services, whereas
the EU's interest to protect European culture demands a more
favourable treatment of audio-visual services of European origin.
Representing EU's unyielding position, France refuses any
compromise solution, unlike the U.S., afraid it might set a
precedent which the U.S. would use in future WTO negotiating
rounds.
Recalling recent talks in Washington with U.S. Trade
Representative Susan Esserman, Porges said Croatia enjoyed the
support of the U.S. and other EU members. The French position is
contrary to WTO principles, he asserted.
Porges said Croatia suggested the issue be resolved through
tripartite EU-U.S.-Croatia talks.
If permanent representatives of EU countries fail to find a
solution and agree in Brussels by the end of the week, Croatia
expects a solution will be found by EU countries' foreign ministers
at the 11 October session of the Council of Ministers, Porges said.
The task force in charge of Croatia's access to the WTO should hold
its last meeting on 12 October.
(hina) ha jn