BERLIN/ZAGREB, Jan 20 (Hina) - The Bertelsmann Forum was an important conference because its topic, Europe without frontiers, will become increasingly present in European politics, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said in
Berlin on Saturday. "We had to come to Berlin because of the intriguing topic... but even more so because of almost 70 participants, active and former politicians, public figures and scholars," he told Hina over the telephone. In his address at the biannual forum, organised by the renowned Bertelsmann foundation, Picula on behalf of the government outlined the possibilities of Croatia's participation in European Union expansion. Croatia is "almost synonymous for a border region, which throughout history has constantly been exposed to all the risks faced by a border country," he said. It is Croatia's "diverse historical, cultural and political identity (that makes it) of use to Europ
BERLIN/ZAGREB, Jan 20 (Hina) - The Bertelsmann Forum was an
important conference because its topic, Europe without frontiers,
will become increasingly present in European politics, Croatian
Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said in Berlin on Saturday.
"We had to come to Berlin because of the intriguing topic... but
even more so because of almost 70 participants, active and former
politicians, public figures and scholars," he told Hina over the
telephone.
In his address at the biannual forum, organised by the renowned
Bertelsmann foundation, Picula on behalf of the government
outlined the possibilities of Croatia's participation in European
Union expansion.
Croatia is "almost synonymous for a border region, which throughout
history has constantly been exposed to all the risks faced by a
border country," he said. It is Croatia's "diverse historical,
cultural and political identity (that makes it) of use to Europe
which, in expanding, is looking for its future identity."
"Croatia hopes to succeed, namely that the sacrifices it's making
on the path of its own modernisation will eventually result in
admission to the EU," Picula told Hina.
Nobody any longer contests Croatia's wish to join as soon as
possible the group of countries currently ahead of it in
rapprochement with Europe, he said, adding Croatia was part of it
all as a "self-explanatory candidate."
"Several speakers (at the forum) mentioned the progress Croatia has
made over the past months, which is also the subject of a starting
study drafted by the Bertelsmann Institute as a basis for the
debate," Picula said.
In Berlin, he held several brief informal meetings, for instance
with Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel and Hungarian Foreign
Minister Janos Martony, exchanging views on the latest
developments in the region.
(hina) ha