TOKYO TOKYO, April 5 (Hina) - A ministerial conference aimed at strengthening peace and economic development in the western Balkans took place in Tokyo on Monday under the sponsorship of the European Union and the Japanese Foreign
Ministry, a statement from the Croatian Economy Ministry said.
TOKYO, April 5 (Hina) - A ministerial conference aimed at strengthening
peace and economic development in the western Balkans took place in
Tokyo on Monday under the sponsorship of the European Union and the
Japanese Foreign Ministry, a statement from the Croatian Economy
Ministry said.#L#
The conference was attended by foreign and economy ministers from
Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Serbia and
Montenegro, as well as by representatives of southeastern European
countries, the European Union, the United States, Russia and
international organisations.
The meeting was opened by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi,
and keynote speeches were delivered by Irish Minister of Cooperation
Development and Human Rights Tom Kitt, who co-chaired the conference
as an EU representative, and the Chairwoman of the Japanese Agency for
International Cooperation, Sadako Ogata.
Croatia was represented by Economy Minister Branko Vukelic, who spoke
of Croatia's efforts to join the European Union and NATO as its
foreign policy goals. "After joining the European Union, Croatia will
become a bridge towards Southeastern Europe, assisting the EU and the
international community in their activities in the region," Vukelic
said.
The Croatian minister stressed the importance of strengthening
relations with neighbouring countries and countries in the region, as
well as Croatia's participation in the international community's
efforts in combating terrorism.
Speaking of home policy priorities, Vukelic cited the strengthening of
democracy and its institutions, the rule of law, human rights and the
return of refugees to their prewar homes.
The State Secretary of the National Office for the Development
Strategy, Ante Babic, said that Croatia, along with the EU, could be a
generator of development of the entire region.
Babic said that Croatia had invested around US500 million in the
region in the last two to three years. "The European Union has
recognised the possibility of Croatia becoming a pillar of economic
and political stability in the region, which has recently resulted in
the opening of an office that will monitor Croatia separately from the
Western Balkans," he added.
The conference ended with the adoption of a final document which,
among other things, welcomed the progress Croatia had made in the
process of its integration with the EU and NATO and supported the
Croatian government in continuing the policy of further strengthening
relations with countries in the region, the return of refugees and its
policy towards minorities.
On Tuesday, Vukelic and Babic are scheduled to meet officials from the
Japanese business federation Nippon Keidanren, Senior Deputy Foreign
Minister Ichiro Aiziawa, and representatives of the Toyota Motor
Corporation.
(Hina) vm