ZAGREB, Nov 25 (Hina) - The reasons behind the introduction of visas for Croatian citizens travelling to Great Britain are not only of economic, but also of political nature, Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa told British Ambassador
Colin Munro in Zagreb on Thursday. Matesa invited Munro for talks to express the government's dissatisfaction and concern with the introduction of visas, the government's Media and Public Relations Office said in a statement. "We have assessed that the fact that the visa regime has been expanded to include bearers of diplomatic passports confirms that the reasons for the introduction are not only of economic, but also of political nature, Premier Matesa stressed," said the statement. It reminds that the Croatian government had been willing to cooperate in resolving the problems of Croatian citizens seeking asylum in the United Kingdom, and that it had reit
ZAGREB, Nov 25 (Hina) - The reasons behind the introduction of visas
for Croatian citizens travelling to Great Britain are not only of
economic, but also of political nature, Croatian Premier Zlatko
Matesa told British Ambassador Colin Munro in Zagreb on Thursday.
Matesa invited Munro for talks to express the government's
dissatisfaction and concern with the introduction of visas, the
government's Media and Public Relations Office said in a
statement.
"We have assessed that the fact that the visa regime has been
expanded to include bearers of diplomatic passports confirms that
the reasons for the introduction are not only of economic, but also
of political nature, Premier Matesa stressed," said the
statement.
It reminds that the Croatian government had been willing to
cooperate in resolving the problems of Croatian citizens seeking
asylum in the United Kingdom, and that it had reiterated its
willingness on several occasions.
"That is why it is difficult to accept this drastic decision on the
part of the British Government," the statement said.
It points out the introduction of visas for Croatian citizens is
obstructing the future development of economic relations between
the two countries by considerably hampering the work of Croatian
businessmen and bankers doing business with London, as well as of
companies whose business ties depend on contacts with the world's
biggest finance centre.
Great Britain introduced the visa regime for Croatian citizens on
19 November, citing as reason the high number of Croatian asylum
seekers who abused the British asylum system.
According to British data, 1,140 Croatian citizens, mainly Serbs
from eastern Croatia, sought asylum in Great Britain in the first
nine months of this year. Their number in 1998 was only 335.
The British government believes the majority of those persons seek
asylum out of economic reasons, thus abusing the asylum right.
A Croatian Foreign Ministry spokesman last week said Croatia
understood the reasons which urged Great Britain to introduce visas
for Croats, but also expressed hope the step would be short-term and
temporary.
(hina) ha