FM Pusić: Oluja restored country’s territorial unity

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusić said the situation in Iran was still problematic, but that there was certain progress thanks to the agreement that had finally been achieved

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusić said the situation in Iran was still problematic, but that there was certain progress thanks to the agreement that had finally been achieved. Pusić, who is in Brussels for a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, said that Iran was on a trial period until January the following year as sanction had not been lifted, only suspended in order to see if the agreement on nuclear energy usage and research was being implemented. “The EU has played a major role in the talks, notably former and current high representatives for foreign and security policy Ashton and Mogherini, but one should also mention member states such as Great Britain, Germany and France which also took part in the negotiations,” Pusić said. She added that the results still had to be verified by the US Congress, but as far as Europe was concerned they were universally positive, including the geographically close Croatia. The old geopolitics were dangerous and verged on war, said Pusić, warning that the EU should work with countries in the region too, notably the Persian Gulf states and Saudi Arabia, which were upset about the development of events. Israel is also one of the countries that have sided with them. However, the EU member states believe that the next six months would prove to what extent the removal of nuclear threat and danger of war has contributed to the stabilization of the region and Iran’s transformation from an adversary into a partner, Pusić said.

The second topic was Libya and the results of the work by UN Special Representative Bernandino León. Pusić said that a certain level of agreement has been reached with different parties in Libya and that talks has commenced with the local governments, i.e. individuals who enjoy legitimacy in smaller communities. However, Pusić underlined, there is still no agreement against human smugglers operating on the Libyan coast, but we are heading in that direction as the meeting also discussed possible sanctions against individuals hindering the prospects of achieving an agreement.

The EU foreign ministers also met with Tunisia’s top officials. Pusić cited Tunisia as an Arab Spring country and a potential anchor of stability in the Southern Mediterranean, but in which two terrorist attacks had taken place, dramatically impacting tourism as one of the country’s leading industries. The meeting also discussed the EU-Tunisia cooperation and the prospects of signing a comprehensive free trade agreement.

Regarding the comments on the upcoming commemoration of Operation Oluja (Storm), Pusić said it was a celebration which was being elevated to the level of a state affair, a state event in the capital, which would establish itself as such in time so there was no need for panic or reverting to politics of the ‘90s. “Politics that are useful for Croatia do not resort to such rhetoric as Croatia is a completely different position now. This is a commemoration that isn’t celebrating anyone’s suffering and tragedy, which are inevitable in any war, but a celebration of Croatia’s territorial unification and the end of war on its territory,” stressed Pusić, adding that those who meant well understood it as something positive. She reiterated that the war had been led on Croatia’s territory and that we had been attacked by an aggressor presenting itself as the Yugoslav National Army, but was in fact an army led by Slobodan Milošević. Operation Oluja restored Croatia’s territorial unity, Pusić said. This is what we are celebrating, as would any other country, and that should be respected.

Press releases