Speaking at the event, Zuzul repeated European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso's statement that he hoped that Croatia would become a full EU member during his term in office.
Minister Zuzul said this was both a realistic and optimistic statement, adding that the date for the start of accession talks was the most important issue for Croatia at the moment.
The negotiations must last between two and two and a half years, which means that we could wrap them up by 2007, Zuzul told Croatian reporters after he took part in the round table discussion "The European Bridge Between the East and the West".
"Croatia has demonstrated that with its principled policy it is not only meeting EU criteria but actually making progress in development," Zuzul said.
The fact that Croatia will launch membership talks and eventually join the EU is a clear message to other countries in the region. "The stabilisation of the region can be achieved through the integration of those countries with the EU," he said.
Commenting on relations with Slovenia, Zuzul expressed satisfaction with the fact that Slovene Foreign Minister Ivo Vajgl said during the debate that all problems between the two countries were inherited.
"We have always stated that those problems are of such nature that they can be solved, but not in such a way that we would have to abandon our principles... Solution means recognising and accepting the principles of sovereignty of every country and finding a compromise, which is certainly always possible," Zuzul said.
Vajgl stressed the importance of preserving good neighbourly relations and solving outstanding issues at a pace that was possible.
Croatia was the only non-EU country attending the round table discussion.
The event was also attended by Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel and EC vice-president Margot Wallstroem.