ZAGREB, May 16 (Hina) - The Croatian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Thursday in response to a decision by the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers to delay Croatia's admission to full membership in the Council of
Europe.
ZAGREB, May 16 (Hina) - The Croatian Foreign Ministry issued a
statement on Thursday in response to a decision by the Council of
Europe's Committee of Ministers to delay Croatia's admission to
full membership in the Council of Europe. #L#
Following is the full text of the statement:
According to a decision by the Council of Europe's Committee
of Ministers, reached at a session on May 15, the final stage of
Croatia's admission into the Council of Europe was prolonged. The
Committee entrusted its group for relations with the countries of
Central and Eastern Europe with reconsidering at its next session
on May 30 the issue of Croatia's accession as soon as possible to
the Council of Europe on the basis of a document being prepared by
the Secretariat of the Council of Europe as regards a timetable for
Croatia to fulfill its commitments.
The Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regrets the
postponement of Croatia's admission into the Council of Europe.
Recalling the permanent transparency of Croatia's policies and
development as well as its cooperation with the most important
international factors, the Republic of Croatia confirms its
allegiance to the process of democratic development, observing the
criteria and standards of the Council of Europe. Therefore, Croatia
will continue to contribute to the progress of Europe and the world
through individual achievements and by developing good neighbourly
relations, but without any new group or regional approaches.
Croatia will continue to cooperate with the Council of Europe
in all aspects, but cannot accept that its admission be made
conditional upon the accession of other neighbouring countries. It
is the forthcoming membership of the Council of Europe that will
enable Croatia to participate more effectively in European
integrations and join other leading European institutions.
The Republic of Croatia expects expedient and constructive
consultations with the Council of Europe's Secretariat and with
other Council of Europe member states. According to an April 24,
1996 opinion of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly,
Croatia particularly expects the European Union member states to
contribute to the termination of the regular procedure of admitting
Croatia into the Council of Europe in accordance with conclusions
of the European Union Ministerial Council reached on May 13, which
reiterate support for Croatia's accession as soon as possible to
the Council of Europe and demand further explanations concerning
the extended deadline for admission.
(hina) ha jn
161846 MET may 96