SARAJEVO, April 21 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, who met several presidents and prime ministers of Southeastern European countries at a summit in Sarajevo on Wednesday, said they all had congratulated him on the
positive opinion of the European Commission on Croatia's application for membership of the European Union, and that he had told them that the opinion was also an encouragement to all Croatia's neighbours to follow its example.
SARAJEVO, April 21 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, who
met several presidents and prime ministers of Southeastern European
countries at a summit in Sarajevo on Wednesday, said they all had
congratulated him on the positive opinion of the European Commission
on Croatia's application for membership of the European Union, and
that he had told them that the opinion was also an encouragement to
all Croatia's neighbours to follow its example. #L#
Sanader was attending a Southeastern Europe Cooperation Process
(SEECP) summit where he met the President of Serbia and Montenegro,
Svetozar Marovic, and Prime Ministers Fatos Nano of Albania, Recep
Erdogan of Turkey and Constantin Karamanlis of Greece.
"I wish to thank them all for their congratulations and I wish to
emphasise here in Sarajevo that the European Commission's decision is
not important only for Croatia, but for all neighbouring countries. If
one country, in this case Croatia, has set off (to join the EU), it
must be an encouragement to all others," the Croatian prime minister
said.
Sanader said that the European Commission's positive opinion was
important proof that the European Union "is not just an illusion or a
distant goal, but a reality close at hand".
Commenting on his bilateral meetings, Sanader said he was satisfied
with the talks he had had, adding that he had agreed with the Turkish
and Albanian prime ministers to meet again soon. He described his
meeting with the Serbian president as important, saying that further
steps would be taken soon with a view to improving relations between
the two countries.
Sanader said he had held very important talks with his Greek
counterpart, who he said promised Greece's support to Croatia in its
efforts to join NATO as soon as possible and the European Union.
Sanader said that every EU member country could play an important role
at a meeting of the European Council in June when it decides on a date
for the start of EU entry talks with Croatia, which would lead to full
membership.
In his address at the plenary session of the Sarajevo summit, Sanader
reaffirmed Croatia's readiness to strengthen the peace and stability
in the region, and said that Croatia was interested in becoming a full
member of the SEECP.
The SEECP programme was launched in 1996 and Croatia has participated
in it as an observer.
(Hina) vm