BH FOREIGN MINISTER ON ADMISSION TO EU, RELATIONS WITH CROATIA

SARAJEVO, Dec 17 (Hina) - The process of Bosnia-Herzegovina's admission into the European Union will last ten to 20 years because the level of democracy and human rights protection, and the establishment of market economy are still below the set criteria, Bosnia's Foreign Minister Jadranko Prlic said in an interview with Friday's issue of the Sarajevo daily 'Oslobodjenje'. Prlic added, however, that the stalling of Bosnia's admission to the Council of Europe was not justified because the situation in some member-countries was not better than in Bosnia. "Some international representatives believe that the admission of Bosnia to the Council of Europe would be a reward to the ruling parties," Prlic said. Commenting on the Bosnian-Croatian relations, Prlic said they were good and the problems which existed were a consequence of the war. "I believe that after the elections in Croatia, regardless of their results, it will be easier to solve problems," Prlic said, adding he had already invited Croatia's new or old foreign minister to make his first state visit after the elections to Bosnia-Herzegovina. Speaking about priorities, Prlic said trade and property relations between the two countries had to be regulated, adding Croatia- Bosnia relations were not at the same level as those between the two countries' citizens. "Ordinary people, but also others in Croatia are finding it very difficult to accept the fact that Bosnia-Herzegovina is a state. That means that it is not a matter of politics but of perception. The whole process in Croatia, the Stability Pact, democratisation, economic reforms, the new security system - all that will bring about a considerably higher level of trust and the normalisation of relations," Prlic said. (hina) rml