ZAGREB, April 20 (Hina) - Commenting on the European Commission's positive opinion on Croatia's EU membership application, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader has said the document is an overview of the situation in Croatia as well as proof
that Croatia is a democratic country.
ZAGREB, April 20 (Hina) - Commenting on the European Commission's
positive opinion on Croatia's EU membership application, Prime
Minister Ivo Sanader has said the document is an overview of the
situation in Croatia as well as proof that Croatia is a democratic
country.#L#
Speaking in the prime time news programme on Croatian Television on
Tuesday evening, Sanader said the more difficult part of the job was
done. "By that I mean the 14 years since Croatia gained independence,
from 1990 until today, when the European Union recognised that
Croatia is a mature, democratic country."
Asked if the crucial element which changed Britain's position on the
avis was a positive assessment of Croatia's cooperation with the UN
war crimes tribunal by the tribunal's chief prosecutor, Sanader said
that this was "only one of the aspects of Croatia's candidacy and
application that were considered".
"There are three political criteria that have to be met: cooperation
with the UN tribunal, refugee returns, and reform of the judiciary.
Both the previous government and the incumbent one have made great
efforts with regard to these three criteria and I am really
satisfied," the PM said among other things.
(Hina) rml