ZAGREB, 12 April (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic this morning informed the Parliament House of Representatives about the main characteristics of the Foreign Affairs Bill, which is in the first reading, as well as about
basic strategic characteristics of Croatia's foreign policy.
ZAGREB, 12 April (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic
this morning informed the Parliament House of Representatives about
the main characteristics of the Foreign Affairs Bill, which is in
the first reading, as well as about basic strategic characteristics
of Croatia's foreign policy. #L#
The peaceful reintegration of eastern Slavonia, Baranja and
western Srijem was the top priority of Croatia's foreign policy,
Granic said, adding that numerous elements pointed to the fact that
the reintegration could be carried out in a peaceful way this year.
The peaceful reintegration should start in mid May and be
completed in mid June, Granic said.
The second strategic aim is the strengthening of the
Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, which is the foundation of
Bosniac-Croat relations and of the stability in the region.
Speaking about relations with Belgrade, Granic said it could
be expected that the seven memoranda signed between Croatia and
Yugoslavia would be implemented.
The oil pipeline, which was to be opened at the end of last
month, was still closed because Croatia did not have guarantees
that the Serbs had stopped extracting oil from the Djeletovci oil
fields in eastern Slavonia. Relations with Belgrade would depend on
the agreement on the normalization of relations. That agreement was
being hampered by Belgrade's demand for a trilateral exchange of
the Prevlaka peninsula, Granic said, adding Croatia refused any
discussion about this issue.
Most of the agreements with Slovenia were completed or almost
completed. As regards the two well-known open questions - the Piran
bay and Ljubljanska banka depositors - the two countries had not
yet exhausted all negotiation possibilities, Granic said.
Croatia's admission to the Council of Europe was the most
important issue as regards the European integration processes,
Granic said, adding that Croatia could be admitted to the
organization as a full member in May.
'We have applied for the admission into the NATO Partnership
for Peace program and we have the support of the United States for
this. If the process of demilitarization is completed successfully,
we can expect to be a member of the organization this year', Granic
said, stressing very good relations between Croatia and the United
States.
Speaking about the provisions of the Foreign Affairs Bill,
Granic said that the bill would help the improvement of foreign
affairs service. Croatia had 45 embassies, seven missions, 17
general consulates, two consulates and one diplomatic office
throughout the world as well as 21 honorary consuls. There were 193
diplomats working in the Croatian diplomatic-consular service.
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