Croatian Foreign Minister Miomir Žužul took part as a guest at the 10th “European Forum Wachau 2004”, held 5 June 2004 in Wachau, Austria
In his speech, Minister Žužul thanked the host, the Republic of Austria, especially Minister Ferrero-Waldner, for the dedicated support to Croatia in its efforts in approaching the EU. Minister Žužul said that is now close to realising its most important goal. full EU membership, that will follow after receiving the expected candidate status and the setting of the date for the start of the negotiations. In his well-received speech, Minister Žužul also discussed the viewpoints of the Croatian government and diplomacy about the situation in the region in which Croatia is the principal stabilising factor and an example to other EU-aspiring countries. A part of Minister Žužul’s presentation was dedicated to solving open issues with the neighbouring and friendly Slovenia, represented at the Forum by Minister Rupel. Minister Ferrero-Waldner said that Austria and the EU members will gladly accept Croatia as a candidate country, and help it in achieving full membership. Žužul thanked the Austrian Minister for her words of support and said that Croatia is hoping for a “Europe of the 28” soon, adding that the EU in Croatia gets a reliable member and partner. The annual award of the Alois Mock Foundation, the European award, went to Slovenian Minister Rupel. At the margins of the European Forum, which for 10 years has been active in realising the new, united Europe, Minister Žužul had a trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Austria and Slovenia Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Dimitrij Rupel. The three ministers agreed on strengthening the trilateral co-operation for the purposes of contributing to the stabilisation of the region and discussed the forms of concrete help to Croatia, which is on the right way towards the EU membership. The Croatian delegation also included Croatian Ambassador to Austra Dražen Vukov Čolić, President of the Croatian Parliament’s Board for European Integration Neven Mimica, and County Head of the Istarska County Ivan Jakovčić.
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