EU SETS CONDITIONS FOR COOPERATION WITH SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN COUNTRI

COUNTRI $ ES LUXEMBOURG, Oct 28 (Hina) - European Union member countries' foreign ministers on Monday were informed of the so-called EU regional approach to the former Yugoslavia's area. A correspondent of the Croatian 'Vjesnik' daily reported that EU foreign minister had formulated their joint stance on the cooperation between the EU and southeastern European countries in a document read at the beginning of the Luxembourg meeting on Monday. The EU plan has as a starting point the fact that there are different, sovereign and independent countries in the region in question. However, the EU will apply several joint criteria for relations with all of those countries. All the countries are put under obligation to respect human and minorities' rights. They are also asked to respect peace accords and to enable displaced people and refugees to come home. Particular countries are also requested to meet special conditions. Bosnia-Herzegovina should solidify peace and reconstruct its economy. Croatia should implement the November 1995 Erdut agreement on the peaceful reintegration of eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Sirmium along with preserving the multiethnic characteristics of that eastern Croatian area in order to remove reasons for exodus of ethnic Serbs. Serbia should solve the minorities' question, particularly in the Kosovo area (mostly populated with ethnic Albanians) where EU favours a "broad" autonomy with recognizing the borders of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro). EU foreign ministers gave the European Commission a mandate to negotiate with the above mentioned three countries with which it has still no signed agreement on trade and cooperation. The EU expects from the countries that had emerged in the area of the former Yugoslavia (SFRJ) to establish mutual cooperation, reinforce democracy and civil society as well as to develop regional cooperation. However, it was stressed that none of the countries could be responsible for failure of its "potential regional partner" to show good will to cooperate. (hina) jn mš 282243 MET oct 96