ZAGREB, Feb 17 (Hina) - The new composition of the National Sabor and the parliamentary foreign policy committee must have a more important role in the creation and implementation of the foreign policy, said Croatian parliamentarians
and Sabor President Zlatko Tomcic at Thursday's constituent session of the foreign policy committee of the House of Representatives. At this session Croatia's Foreign Minister Tonino Picula submitted his first report. The committee's head Zdravko Tomac said the constitutional and legislative frameworks of the work should be altered in order to strengthen the role both of the Sabor and this committee in the creation and conduct of the foreign policy. A deputy of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Mate Granic, a former Foreign Minister, proposed that the Committee be a body which considers analyses of the Foreign Ministry's work and give the green light to
ZAGREB, Feb 17 (Hina) - The new composition of the National Sabor
and the parliamentary foreign policy committee must have a more
important role in the creation and implementation of the foreign
policy, said Croatian parliamentarians and Sabor President Zlatko
Tomcic at Thursday's constituent session of the foreign policy
committee of the House of Representatives.
At this session Croatia's Foreign Minister Tonino Picula submitted
his first report.
The committee's head Zdravko Tomac said the constitutional and
legislative frameworks of the work should be altered in order to
strengthen the role both of the Sabor and this committee in the
creation and conduct of the foreign policy.
A deputy of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Mate Granic, a
former Foreign Minister, proposed that the Committee be a body
which considers analyses of the Foreign Ministry's work and give
the green light to ambassadors.
Submitting the brief report, Foreign Minister Picula said Croatia
can count on the open door of the European Union if Zagreb shows its
willingness to settle relations with neighbouring countries.
"The European Union does not want to integrate our problems" Picula
told the present, after his visit to the EU headquarters and several
bilateral meetings with senior officials of EU member-countries.
Picula came back to Zagreb last night after he, along with Premier
Ivica Racan and European Integration Minister Ivan Jakovcic,
toured Lisbon, Brussels and Berlin.
Picula told Croatian parliamentarians that Bosnia-Herzegovina
would be a "test-paper" of Croatia's ability to arrange relations
with its neighbours.
While the ties between Croatia and Hungary can serve as an example
for promoting good relationship, the relations with the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) cannot be improved as long as Yugoslav
President is a person, indicted of war crimes, Picula added.
As regards Slovenia, we should determine methodology for
resolution of open issues with that country, he said.
The latest meetings with EU officials have reflected the wish of the
international community that Croatia can accelerate its moves in
coming closer to the EU, he added.
(hina) ms