STRASBOURG, 11 Oct (Hina) - Croatia wishes to be an active factor in the establishment of peace and stability in the area it borders on - the Balkans and South-East Europe - and it has shown it with its constructive policy in the
peace process as well as with its latest steps in that field. However, Croatia seeks integration only with those Western and Central European countries to which it belongs geopolitically and culturally, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman said in his speech before the heads of countries and governments on the second day of the Council of Europe summit in Strasbourg Saturday.
STRASBOURG, 11 Oct (Hina) - Croatia wishes to be an active factor
in the establishment of peace and stability in the area it
borders on - the Balkans and South-East Europe - and it has shown
it with its constructive policy in the peace process as well as
with its latest steps in that field. However, Croatia seeks
integration only with those Western and Central European
countries to which it belongs geopolitically and culturally,
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman said in his speech before the
heads of countries and governments on the second day of the
Council of Europe summit in Strasbourg Saturday. #L#
"As a Central European and Mediterranean country, Croatia
borders on the Balkans and South-eastern Europe, where three
civilisations intermingle and challenge one another. Aware of its
geopolitical position and of its historical experience, Croatia
wishes to be an active and constructive factor in the
establishment of peace and stabilisation in this area", said
Tudjman adding that with its latest steps, Croatia had confirmed
its commitment to strengthening the peace process.
"Croatia is the only party which is actively co-operating
with the Hague Tribunal. Croatia is the most active in the
implementation of the Dayton and Washington Accords, in order to
achieve a definitive resolution of the Bosnian crisis," Tudjman
said.
Croatia is committed to normal relations, and co-operation,
with all countries in the region, especially in projects of
common interest, but its seeks integration only with those
Western and Central European countries to which it belongs
geopolitically and culturally.
By its latest steps, Croatia has confirmed its commitment
to full internal democratic development, Tudjman said.
"The Croatian Government has adopted a Program on the
return of displaced persons, the establishment of confidence-
building measures for coexistence with the Serb minority, and the
overall normalisation of life in the regions affected by the
war," Tudjman said.
Tudjman presented short chronology of historical
development of the Croatian people. Recalling that Croats are one
of the oldest European peoples, Tudjman said that the Croatian
people had also given a considerable contribution to the defence
and development of West European civilisation.
"It would be inappropriate, therefore, to say that Croatia
has yet to come nearer to Europe," he said.
During the Second World War, the strongest antifascist
movement developed in Yugoslavia, with its political and military
centre in Croatia, under the leadership of Croats, Tudjman said.
Speaking about the crisis in the area of the former
Yugoslavia, Tudjman said that the continuous crisis of both
monarchist and socialist Yugoslavia was caused "first and
foremost, by civilisation differences between the peoples, from
which it was forcefully constructed and maintained after the
First and Second World War".
"The crisis deteriorated sharply after the disappearance of
Tito from the political scene. It climaxed in the days of the
collapse of the communist system, and of such multinational
States in Europe such as Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and the
Soviet Union," Tudjman said.
After the proposal to solve the Yugoslav crisis through the
restructuring of the state community on consistently confederal
foundations had been rejected, Croatia and then Bosnia-
Herzegovina became subject to the Greater Serbian aggression,
Tudjman said adding that Croatia emerged as the victor from the
war which had been imposed upon it and which caused tremendous
human and material losses.
"If we can agree that the circumstances of war, though they
were not caused by Croatia, were the reason for the delayed
admission of Croatia to European institutions, there should
nevertheless be no doubt about Croatia's natural belonging to the
community of States and peoples of the same cultural sphere," he
said.
"In only a year, since its admission to the Council of
Europe, Croatia has made indisputable progress in complying with
the commitments it has undertaken, including the ratification of
almost all conventions. Of course, we are aware of the fact that
much is still to be accomplished. However, the Croatian public
are frustrated about the one-sided and biased presentation of
conditions and circumstances in democratic Croatia," Tudjman
said.
"As a democratic country, Croatia wishes to take active
part in the building of European society, based on respect for
national singularities and cultural diversities, and on democracy
and social cohesion, as prerequisites for a dignified life for
all people, and for peace among nations and States - in
accordance with the principles upheld by the Council of Europe
and the United Nations Charter," said President Tudjman at the
end of his speech before the Council of Europe.
(hina) rm
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