BELGRADE, Aug 29 (Hina) - Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic today extended apologised to the Croatian Foreign Ministry for the issuing of the name of the suggested Yugoslav ambassador to Croatia, Milan Simurdic, ahead of the
procedure under the diplomatic protocol. At his first news conference since becoming foreign minister, Svilanovic told Hina the issuing of the name was "an unfortunate combination of circumstances", and stressed he took no part in it. The government had, before the envisaged procedure, issued names having appointed and suggested 21 new ambassadors and consul generals, he said. Asked by Hina bout any news regarding his possible departure to the, first announced, then postponed, visit to Croatia, Svilanovic said "there are no new moments", and expressed his interest in talks with his counterpart Tonino Picula and Prime Minister Ivica Racan. He asserted "not one Yugoslav
BELGRADE, Aug 29 (Hina) - Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran
Svilanovic today extended apologised to the Croatian Foreign
Ministry for the issuing of the name of the suggested Yugoslav
ambassador to Croatia, Milan Simurdic, ahead of the procedure under
the diplomatic protocol.
At his first news conference since becoming foreign minister,
Svilanovic told Hina the issuing of the name was "an unfortunate
combination of circumstances", and stressed he took no part in it.
The government had, before the envisaged procedure, issued names
having appointed and suggested 21 new ambassadors and consul
generals, he said.
Asked by Hina bout any news regarding his possible departure to the,
first announced, then postponed, visit to Croatia, Svilanovic said
"there are no new moments", and expressed his interest in talks with
his counterpart Tonino Picula and Prime Minister Ivica Racan.
He asserted "not one Yugoslav or Serbian official" has held talks
with the Croatian prime minister since the arrival of the new
political structure to power.
"The meeting could be useful because we would additionally be able
to see the will for cooperation and partnership, and possibilities
for reaching new agreements," said Svilanovic.
In this context he cited the solving of border issues between the
two countries on the Croatian southernmost peninsula of Prevlaka,
and on the Danube, that is, the south and north border.
The Yugoslav minister stressed expert commissions existed in both
countries which have been dealing with the border issues for
years.
Svilanovic said an open issue between Croatia and Yugoslavia is the
issue of refugees, or as he put it, Croatian citizens who are
currently living in Yugoslavia as refugees.
The foreign minister spoke extensively about what the Yugoslav
diplomacy has achieved since October 5 last year. He cited three
priorities of his ministry -- Yugoslavia's entry into the EU,
cooperation with neighbouring countries and a balanced
relationship with the big global powers.
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