Belgium supports and will continue to support Croatia's membership in the EU, Gucht said in Zagreb after talks with Croatian Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic.
Commenting on the case of the runaway general Ante Gotovina, who is wanted by the UN war crimes tribunal, the Belgian minister said that his country had already recognised significant steps which Croatia had made regarding this issue. Besides, in the European Union also there are positive signs with regard to this matter but it is now up to the (EU) Council of Ministers, Gucht said.
According to diplomatic sources, EU foreign ministers will consider a date for opening membership talks with Croatia at their next meeting in Luxembourg in June after the tribunal's chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte visits Zagreb on 2 and 3 June. Del Ponte will notify the EU task force, set up to assess Croatia's cooperation with the tribunal, of her visit to Zagreb. She will also submit a report on this topic to the U Security Council on 13 June, when the EU ministerial summit is also scheduled.
Minister Grabar-Kitarovic said "Belgium has always supported Croatia, particularly in the building of civil society since it gained independence."
"Belgium is offering active assistance to Croatia on its road towards European integration," she added, describing bilateral relations as very good without any outstanding issues.
The two ministers signed an agreement on employment of diplomatic and consular staff and a joint declaration on co-financing two projects in eastern Slavonia.
Belgium will ensure 450,000 euros for economic projects in the city of Vukovar and, together with Norway, will finance the construction of an iron bridge across the Danube with 300,000 euros.