ZAGREB, Aug 29 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament's committee on internal affairs and national security will hold a session on integrated security and the struggle against terrorism on the northern island of Brijuni from September 1
through 4.
ZAGREB, Aug 29 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament's committee on
internal affairs and national security will hold a session on
integrated security and the struggle against terrorism on the
northern island of Brijuni from September 1 through 4. #L#
Committee chairman Ante Markov told a news conference in parliament
on Friday that the purpose of the session was to show the headway
Croatia had made in actively joining the international system of
integrated security and fight against terrorism.
The progress Croatia has achieved in the past four years is
reflected in the adjustment of Croatia's legislation with European
Union's regulations with regard to the adoption of laws on defence
and security services and of defence and national security
strategies.
The session will be attended by President Stjepan Mesic, Parliament
President Zlatko Tomcic, Defence Minister Zeljka Antunovic,
Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and other state officials.
Also, senior NATO officials in charge of Europe, officials of
Europe's defence and national security council and of Geneva's Arms
Control Institute are expected to attend the session.
"This is an opportunity for us to prove to the world and everybody
who is not completely convinced of our goals that Croatia is ready
to assume all commitments necessary for entry into NATO and the EU,"
Markov stressed.
He added that the subject of the session was not tightly connected
with Croatia's intention to proclaim an economic zone in the
Adriatic, however, he said, control of the sea border and
ecological resources partly covered that topic.
"At this moment things are going in the desired direction and they
should not be politically interrelated. Croatia will respect all
international norms and proclaim the ecological belt in line with
national interests," Markov said.
Asked to comment on Slovenia's accusations with regards to
Croatia's intention to establish the economic zone, Markov said
Slovenia was not against the economic belt, but that this was rather
"an attempt to connect that decision with specific issues in which
the Slovenes are more interested".
"Slovenia has the right to its opinion, but procedures with regards
to international law and customs are very clear, which is why their
stands should not be taken to heart," Markov said.
Asked whether parliament would vote for the establishment of the
economic belt, Markov said this was not up to parliament, but the
government which had to prepare and adopt a draft decision and then
forward it to parliament which, Markov believes, could adopt it by
the end of the year.
(hina) lml