ZAGREB, Oct 21 (Hina) - Presenting the Stability Pact to the House of Representatives on Thursday, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said the Pact was a completely new initiative the aim of which was to bring south-east Europe as
a region in transition closer to the European Union rules of conduct, so that it could successfully integrate into the EU. Having informed the MPs about the history of the project from its conception to its being made operational in October, and about the three round tables held so far - on security, economy, and democracy - which are the mechanisms of implementation of the Stability Pact, Granic emphasised what the Pact was and what it was not, as well as what it represented for Croatia. The Stability Pact is not an international organisation or a contract, but voluntary association of member-countries aimed at establishing peace, security, and democracy in south-east Euro
ZAGREB, Oct 21 (Hina) - Presenting the Stability Pact to the House
of Representatives on Thursday, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate
Granic said the Pact was a completely new initiative the aim of
which was to bring south-east Europe as a region in transition
closer to the European Union rules of conduct, so that it could
successfully integrate into the EU.
Having informed the MPs about the history of the project from its
conception to its being made operational in October, and about the
three round tables held so far - on security, economy, and democracy
- which are the mechanisms of implementation of the Stability Pact,
Granic emphasised what the Pact was and what it was not, as well as
what it represented for Croatia.
The Stability Pact is not an international organisation or a
contract, but voluntary association of member-countries aimed at
establishing peace, security, and democracy in south-east Europe,
Granic said.
The Pact promotes cooperation between countries, as well as the
protection of minorities and market economy, the opening of borders
for economic cooperation and private investments, the fight
against organised crime, corruption and terrorism, the refugee
return and the political and financial assistance to the countries
in the region, sad Granic.
An important element of the Pact is that it tries to help in the
process of integration into Euro-Atlantic structures.
Participation in the Pact is one of the criteria for assessing
whether a country is prepared to access the Partnership for Peace
and later NATO, he said.
Another important dimension of the Pact is to guarantee the
individual approach to each country in the process of drawing
closer to the EU, and the individual approach is what Croatia has
been advocating, the minister said.
It is true that the Pact includes former Yugoslav countries but
there are also other countries in the region, such as Romania,
Greece, Hungary; there are also EU countries, the United States,
and Russia as well as many international organisations and
countries-helpers, he said.
Croatia is interested in participating in the Pact in as much as it
guarantees a framework for the achievement of its goals, but
Croatia is also aware of the potential dangers which could move it
further away from its goals, Granic said.
He reiterated that Croatia did not accept "any Balkan or similar
associations, which would impose limitations and tie it (Croatia)
to south-east Europe". Once the implementation of the Pact begins
in January 2000, it will be possible to see whether major political
potentials will be realised, Granic added.
(hina) jn rml