State Secretary Davor Božinović received EC acting Enlargement Director Dirk Lange

State Secretary Božinović thanked for the assistance the European Commission is extending Croatia in its negotiations with the EU. In regard to Slovenia’s blockade, the reiterated Croatia’s position, which is based on the principles of the EU and the views it advocates, that border issues should be solved in accordance with the international law, before the International Court of Justice.

Lange welcomed Croatia’s response to the initiative by Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, adding that he hoped the pending talks would have a positive outcome.

The meeting also discussed the issues regarding Croatia’s negotiations with the EU. The collocutors agreed that a lot has already been done, but that Croatia still has to fulfil the remaining obligations, so that the negotiations could carry on in accordance with the European Commission’s indicative timetable for the completion of the negotiations by end-2009.

State Secretary Božinović pointed out the importance Croatia’s negotiations have for the stability of South Eastern Europe and the European perspective in the region, adding that in that regard, the bilateral outstanding issue with Slovenia should be viewed independently of the Euro-integration process. He repeated that Croatia would continue to offer full support for the countries in their region, so that they could join the EU as soon as possible.