ZAGREB SUMMIT ZAGREB, Nov 24 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Friday afternoon assessed that the Zagreb Summit was a "fantastic success" and thanked all who helped prepare this event.
ZAGREB, Nov 24 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Friday
afternoon assessed that the Zagreb Summit was a "fantastic success"
and thanked all who helped prepare this event.#L#
"The Summit has achieved a fantastic success and showed that a
united Europe is our destiny," Mesic said at a joint press
conference he held together with French President Jacques Chirac
and European Commission President Romano Prodi.
"The united Europe will forever rule out war as a political means
and will ensure a democratic and living standard for its citizens,"
the Croatian head of state said.
Chirac, whose country is currently chairing the European Union,
expressed, on behalf of the EU, gratitude to Croatia for "the great
organisation of the Summit and high-quality hospitality."
"Our intention has been to show at the Summit what the EU can give to
nations in the region and what it expects from them, and this goal
has been accomplished," the French president stressed.
During this event, according to him, the EU offered potential
membership, agreements on stabilisation and association, EUR five-
billion assistance through the CARDS (Community Assistance for
Reconstruction, Democratisation and Stabilisation) programme and
trade preferences for economic recovery.
On the other hand, the five countries concerned are asked to
continue their reforms, develop regional cooperation, strengthen
democracy and protect human rights.
EC President Romano Prodi joined in praising the Summit, saying
that the meeting was "very efficient and full of innovations." He
pointed to the significance and tempo of the conclusion of the
Stabilisation and Association agreements, which along with
Copenhagen criteria, would serve as the foundations for the
application for full membership in the Union.
Prodi said the earmarking of means according to the CARDS programme
should be seen as a message to the World Bank and the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) to give their contribution to the progress in
this European region.
Chirac said the international community had gained an improved
image of Croatia which had been the first country in the region to
take the path of democracy.
The international community has improved its perception of
Croatia, as Croatia was the first country in the region to take the
path of democracy, respect for others, and therefore credit should
be given to Zagreb particularly in light of the fact it had a
difficult legacy, Chirac explained.
Asked by reporters to comment on the speech of Yugoslav President
Vojislav Kostunica at the Summit's plenary session, who failed to
mention the necessity of cooperation with the Hague-based
International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) or
responsibility for wars in the region, Mesic said that what was
written in the final declaration was more important.
"The speech is not important, what we have adopted is important,"
Croatian president said referring to the Zagreb Summit's Final
Declaration which underlined that all the countries concerned
would cooperate with the Hague Tribunal.
"We must not measure relations between peoples and countries with
one speech," Mesic added.
Reporters asked the French and Croatian statesmen to comment on
Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic's proposal that Serbia and
his country should separately be recognised by the international
community.
"I would not speculate about the future relations between Serbia
and Montenegro, it will be as the people of Serbia and Montenegro
decide, "the Croatian president said and Chirac supported his
stance on this matter.
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