Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ivan Šimonović, received an Austrian delegation

Within the regular bilateral political consultations, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ivan Šimonović, received an Austrian delegation headed by the Secretary-General of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Dr. Johannes Kyrle, on 12 June 2003.

Further progress in the traditionally good bilateral relations has been confirmed by the meeting of expert groups of both countries to discus the compensation for Austrian citizens whose property had been seized during the Yugoslav communist regime, scheduled in Zagreb on 18 June 2003.

Open questions, such as the ban on beef imports, will be dealt with by the control and monitoring in the form of a software for integral data records which is expected on 1 July 2003.

With regard to the return of archives, the Austrian side was asked for support in the realisation of the return pursuant to the 1923 Agreement and the 1958 Protocol.

The consistent Austrian view of, or in other words the full Austrian support for Croatia's application for membership of the EU, has been confirmed in the talks. Considering the progress in relations with the EU, Austria has offered Croatia admission to the regional partnership or regional cooperation which includes Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia. This regional group has been envisaged as a preparation for the cooperation of these states after they become members of the EU (modelled on BENELUX).

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