ZAGREB, April 3 (Hina) - Croatia does not want to take part in any Balkan associations, nor will it participate in the work of Balkan conferences. It wants exclusively direct relations with the European Union, Croatian Foreign
Minister said in Zagreb on Wednesday.
ZAGREB, April 3 (Hina) - Croatia does not want to take part in any
Balkan associations, nor will it participate in the work of Balkan
conferences. It wants exclusively direct relations with the
European Union, Croatian Foreign Minister said in Zagreb on
Wednesday. #L#
"We want to develop good relations with all countries in the
region and to normalize relations with Belgrade, but we do not want
to be members of any Balkan associations or to participate in the
work of any kind of Balkan conferences, Granic said after
Wednesday's meeting with the Albanian Foreign Minister, Alfred
Serreqi.
"The Republic of Croatia has a basic strategic goal to become
a part of a political and security Euro-Atlantic association,"
Granic said, adding that he did not want "any regional approaches,
but exclusively direct relations with the European Union".
Granic said that he expected Croatia to be admitted to the
European Council by May, after which it would be granted access to
the PHARE program. Croatia was trying to sign an agreement on trade
and cooperation with the EU, Granic said.
The ministers discussed the situation in the region,
implementation of the Dayton peace accords, admittance to European
integrations and bilateral relations.
Both ministers described the political relations between the
two countries as good. Efforts will be put into promoting economic
relations, especially through a joint commission soon to convene.
In his statement, Serreqi accented the issue of Kosovo.
"We think the moment is right for the Serb government and
President Milosevic to be pressured into talks to find a solution
acceptable to both sides," Serreqi said.
He stressed that the issue of Kosovo could not be looked at
only as a problem of human rights.
"Noone knows what kind of autonomy would be acceptable, but
this undefined autonomy is absolutely unacceptable," Serreqi said.
The issue of Kosovo's status should be resolved within the
framework of respect of territorial integrity of all states in the
region and respect of human rights and rights of all minorities,"
Granic said.
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