Minister Žužul pointed out the importance of Austria for the countries of South Eastern and Eastern Europe. He expressed hope that Croatia will end membership negotiations with the EU by 2007 and will become a member during the mandate of the new EC composition that was confirmed yesterday. Žužul said that the EU is Croatia’s objective, but also a means to this end. He mentioned the recent visit to Belgrade by Croatia’s Prime Minister Ivo Sanader as an event which, along with all the others, creates new perspectives for Croatia in relations to the EU, for the closes a country gets to the EU, the stronger the processes of reconciliation, good relations and co-operation are.
As regards the relations between Croatia and Slovenia, Slovenian Foreign Minister Ivo Vajgl said that they are burdened by the open issues inherited from the former state union and that they will continue to be negotiated in good will, as these are issues that cannot be solved over night, but that solution, however, can be reached in a friendly way.
Tomorrow, Saturday 20 November 2004, Minister Žužul is taking part at the 10th European Forum in Berlin, organised by the German Herbert Quandt Foundation and the British Financial Times on the subject “Vision of Europe”. Main spokesmen on this meeting will include Minister Žužul, Czech Republic President Václav Klaus, Turskish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan and President of German Christian Democratic Union Angela Merkel. The purpose of the Berlin meeting is the exchange of ideas on the future of Europe between leading European politicians.