ISTANBUL ISTANBUL, Nov 19 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa on Friday said that a summit in Istanbul was much better and more dynamic than the one held in Portugal, and expressed satisfaction about bilateral meetings of
good quality. The Croatian Prime Minister on Friday held a series of bilateral meetings, of which the most significant was the one held with the president of the Organisation of the Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, Hella Deign. "She is a very significant person for us...regarding the OSCE mission and monitoring elections", Matesa said. Him and the Danish diplomat exchanged opinions on a series of problems which occurred in the past several months "and which have been solved more or less". "She informed me that observers will monitor the elections, and it that sense they have already reserved certain people and capacities, which is a good news for us
ISTANBUL, Nov 19 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa on
Friday said that a summit in Istanbul was much better and more
dynamic than the one held in Portugal, and expressed satisfaction
about bilateral meetings of good quality.
The Croatian Prime Minister on Friday held a series of bilateral
meetings, of which the most significant was the one held with the
president of the Organisation of the Security and Cooperation in
Europe's (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, Hella Deign.
"She is a very significant person for us...regarding the OSCE
mission and monitoring elections", Matesa said. Him and the Danish
diplomat exchanged opinions on a series of problems which occurred
in the past several months "and which have been solved more or
less".
"She informed me that observers will monitor the elections, and it
that sense they have already reserved certain people and
capacities, which is a good news for us", Matesa said.
The final declaration of the summit was written in an "acceptable
and satisfying way" for Croatia, Matesa said, adding that minor
problems occurred during its reaching, due to the opinion of an
Albanian delegation, which demanded that Milosevic be harshly
condemned in the declaration's text.
Matesa said that the European security charter should strengthen
OSCE's position.
Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Friday held two official
meetings, with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreu and the
United States President's special envoy for the implementation of
the Dayton Agreement, James Dobbins. He also held two short
meetings with the United States Secretary of State, Madeline
Albright and German Foreign Minister Joschko Fisher.
On Thursday evening Granic had an informal meeting with British
Foreign Secretary Robin Cook. The two officials discussed a
decision of the British Government to impose visas against Croatian
citizens.
"Croatia regretted to learn that visas are imposed at this time,
regardless of great difficulties the United Kingdom is facing due
to the arrival of Serbs from the Croatian Danube River region",
Granic said.
They are claiming asylum and it is understandable that such acts
caused a reaction, however, the Minister stressed, at this moment
those persons are not departing through Croatia, but through other
countries.
"We are particularly sensitive to the visa regime at this moment and
we will continue negotiations aiming at the cancellation of the
visa regime, because it will definitely damage overall relations
between Croatian and Great Britain, particularly economic
relations, Granic stressed.
According to Granic, his talk with Papandreu tackled the Ion-
Adriatic highway. The two officials agreed that Minister's advisor
Vladimir Drobnjak visits Greece next week, and that a special
meeting of all countries interested in the highway project be held
in the Southern Adriatic town of Dubrovnik in mid December.
"The meeting will be attended by representatives of the Stability
Pact", Granic said.
After its participation in the OSCE summit in Istanbul, the
Croatian delegation is to return in Zagreb Friday.
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