ZAGREB, Jan 11 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said on Friday relations with Italy were good and that it was to be seen if cooperation would proceed in the same direction after the resignation of Foreign Minister
Renato Ruggiero.
ZAGREB, Jan 11 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula
said on Friday relations with Italy were good and that it was to be
seen if cooperation would proceed in the same direction after the
resignation of Foreign Minister Renato Ruggiero.#L#
Stressing that government officials should comment on specific
foreign policy moves and not personnel changes in another country's
government, Picula told Hina that in the wake of Ruggiero's
resignation, Croatia was waiting to see how the Italian Foreign
Ministry would resume relations, including with Croatia.
"Our cooperation is very good, foreign trade is constantly
ascending, and now we shall see if it (cooperation) will resume in
the same way," said the minister.
He described as encouraging Italian Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi's claim that relations with a specific country would be
graded in line with the success of its business cooperation with
Italy. "If that is the criterion, Croatian-Italian relations can
only improve," he said.
Damages for the seized property of the Esuli are one problem in the
relations and there has been no change in stances in this regard,
said Picula. He reminded the Croatian government had suggested that
parliament earmark budgetary funds so that Croatia might start
paying out the damages, which amount to US$35 million.
Picula reminded a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement had been
reached with Italy, the text of which was harmonised in both Rome
and Zagreb. Croatia is willing to sign it at any time, he said,
refusing to speculate when Italy might do so.
Asked to comment on announcements from Italy that the Esuli issue
might escalate to the point where demands would call for changes to
agreements and the restitution of property in kind, Picula reminded
Italy had been one of Croatia's biggest supporters on the
international scene over the past two years, and declined to "first
announce and then comment on steps which haven't been taken."
"One can always face complications, but at this moment I wouldn't be
a pessimist, even though many press pieces point to pessimism," the
minister said, adding he would personally do everything to make
Croatian-Italian relations progress as they had until now.
"One obviously has to take political changes into account, but I've
already said it wouldn't be good if relations between two countries
were significantly revised every time governments or political
structures changed," Picula told Hina.
(hina) ha sb