Minister Picula received Mr. Rory O'Hanlon, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Ireland...

On 15 September 2003, Mr. Tonino Picula, the Croatian Foreign Minister, received Mr. Rory O'Hanlon, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Ireland, who expressed full and open support of his country to a rapid entry of Croatia in the EU.

Understands well the problems that the Republic of Croatia had to resolve during the past few years, Mr. Rory O'Hanlon said that it is necessary for Croatia to resolve as soon as possible all open issues that might affect the date of its entry into the EU.

The Croatian Foreign Minister evaluated that the position of Croatia has improved during the past few years and substantiated this claim with the steps made in improving relations, notably with the neighbouring countries, as well as with the ever growing economic indicators. At the inquiry of Mr. O'Hanlon, Minister Picula stressed that the Gotovina case is the only open issue. As to the return of Serbian refugees to Croatia, the Croatian Government undertakes wide efforts to close this chapter by allocating significant amount from the state budget for the reconstruction of houses.

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