Croatia is modern state on EU's doorstep, says foreign minister

ZAGREB, Jan 11 (Hina) - Croatia#39s biggest successes to date are the defence of the country, the establishment of the foundations of a modern state through the European Union accession process, and the upcoming membership, which is a successful completion of the second and beginning of the third stage of Croatia#39s development as a state, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign and European Affairs Minister Vesna Pusic has told Hina on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of Croatia#39s international recognition.
quotWhen it comes to failures... no government so far has managed to stabilise the economy. I#39m not saying there have been no better or worse periods, but they were the result of better or worse circumstances in the European and global economic area and not of the systematic action of Croatia#39s governments,quot Pusic said.

Today, quotas a decade ago, we are talking about reducing bureaucratic barriers for foreign investors, so that today, as 10-15 years ago, we are talking about the need to simplify the tax system. We are talking, planning, starting, yet the result is that we have complex laws and permits for which one waits for years.quot

Asked about the foreign ministry#39s tasks up to and after Croatia#39s EU accession, Pusic said that until July 1, when Croatia is expected to join the EU, the ministry would focus on meeting the tasks from the Action Plan, adding that the completion of the ratification process in some EU countries was closely linked to that.

quotCroatia is determined to fully meet all of its commitments, just as it#39s determined to work on improvement and reforms after becoming a full member as well... Membership isn#39t an end in itself... It#39s a well set up framework for improving all aspects of the state and society,quot Pusic said.

She reiterated that quotthe negotiating process, longer than 12 years, helped Croatia build state institutions, sound foundations on which to build the house,quot adding that before accession, Croatia would have to prepare for everyday functioning within EU institutions quotbecause the rules adopted in Brussels will directly concern all our citizens, so it#39s very important that they are informed on time and in detail.quot

quotWith full membership, we will be one of the 28 members, with all the rights and obligations this entails. This means that we will have to adopt on a daily basis decisions related to decision-making in the EU, so coordination between state administration bodies is key,quot Pusic said.

Asked in which areas Croatia had achieved the best results during her term in office, she said quotone of the most important results is that we are perceived as a credible partner. In other words, that we stick to the obligations we undertake and not talk with a hidden agenda. Perhaps this doesn#39t seem that important at first, but it is indeed.quot

Pusic said that because of implementing a credible foreign policy, Croatia was the first country being invited to council of ministers meetings when the topic was the neighbourhood.

quotOur estimates are seen as relevant and that we contribute to the solving of outstanding issues. We are seen as an equal partner, which is a big success of our foreign policy. Also, Croatia has an articulated foreign policy both in terms of geographic and geopolitical priorities and in terms of special foreign policy projects and in multilateral organisations.quot

Pusic went on to say that upon Croatia#39s EU accession, quotwe will no longer be just observers but have the possibility to contribute to the design and realisation of European projects, in which I see a big chance for Croatia#39s diplomacy and for Croatia as a state.quot

quotThrough the EU membership, the close connection between our foreign and internal policy will become even more obvious and important. In that context, our diplomatic missions outside the EU will become increasingly important, since premiers and ministers within the EU meet once a month,quot Pusic said.

She went on to say that Croatia#39s EU accession would not benefit only Croatia but the entire region. quotI have often said that this enlargement is an enlargement with a task and this task is to work together with the region on the strengthening of the region#39s European integration and stabilisation.quot

Pusic announced that she would meet with Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele in Brussels on January 14, after which she will go to Santiago de Chile for an EU-Latin America summit. This month she will also attend a regular meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.