State Secretary Bianca Matković organized briefing for heads of EU and NATO members’ diplomatic missions

State Secretary Matković emphasized that the Croatian Government is fully cooperating with the ICTY and will continue to do so. Pointing out that Croatia will in no way jeopardize its political strategy of acceding to the EU, as the Chief Coordinator for Monitoring the EU Negotiations Activities, State Secretary Matković said that Croatia has entered the final phase of the negotiations and that the legislature harmonization is unfolding as planned, as is the fulfilment of the criteria for closing the negotiation chapters in accordance with the European Commission’s Road Map.

Informing the diplomatic representatives about the content of today’s meeting of Minister Jandroković with Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Žbogar, State Secretary Matković expressed conviction in the soon lifting of Slovenia’s veto on Croatia’s accession negotiation, due to which the opening and closing of 12 chapters is on hold.

In his speech to the diplomatic corps, Minister Šimonović explained the recent activities by the relevant Croatian bodies aimed at finding the documents requested by the ICTY Prosecution. He also reported on his talks with Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz during his visit to Croatia this week, expounded upon the fundamental disagreements between The Hague’s and Croatia’s experts regarding the artillery journals which have not been found, and familiarized them with the activities Croatia is undertaking to meet the Court’s demands.