Croatia is modern state on EU's doorstep, says foreign minister

ZAGREB, Jan 11 (Hina) - Croatia's biggest successes to date are the defence of the country, the establishment of the foundations of a modern state through the European Union accession process, and the upcoming membership, which is a successful completion of the second and beginning of the third stage of Croatia's development as a state, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign and European Affairs Minister Vesna Pusic has told Hina on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of Croatia's international recognition.
"When it comes to failures... no government so far has managed to stabilise the economy. I'm not saying there have been no better or worse periods, but they were the result of better or worse circumstances in the European and global economic area and not of the systematic action of Croatia's governments," Pusic said.

Today, "as a decade ago, we are talking about reducing bureaucratic barriers for foreign investors, so that today, as 10-15 years ago, we are talking about the need to simplify the tax system. We are talking, planning, starting, yet the result is that we have complex laws and permits for which one waits for years."

Asked about the foreign ministry's tasks up to and after Croatia's EU accession, Pusic said that until July 1, when Croatia is expected to join the EU, the ministry would focus on meeting the tasks from the Action Plan, adding that the completion of the ratification process in some EU countries was closely linked to that.

"Croatia is determined to fully meet all of its commitments, just as it's determined to work on improvement and reforms after becoming a full member as well... Membership isn't an end in itself... It's a well set up framework for improving all aspects of the state and society," Pusic said.

She reiterated that "the negotiating process, longer than 12 years, helped Croatia build state institutions, sound foundations on which to build the house," adding that before accession, Croatia would have to prepare for everyday functioning within EU institutions "because the rules adopted in Brussels will directly concern all our citizens, so it's very important that they are informed on time and in detail."

"With full membership, we will be one of the 28 members, with all the rights and obligations this entails. This means that we will have to adopt on a daily basis decisions related to decision-making in the EU, so coordination between state administration bodies is key," Pusic said.

Asked in which areas Croatia had achieved the best results during her term in office, she said "one of the most important results is that we are perceived as a credible partner. In other words, that we stick to the obligations we undertake and not talk with a hidden agenda. Perhaps this doesn't seem that important at first, but it is indeed."

Pusic said that because of implementing a credible foreign policy, Croatia was the first country being invited to council of ministers meetings when the topic was the neighbourhood.

"Our estimates are seen as relevant and that we contribute to the solving of outstanding issues. We are seen as an equal partner, which is a big success of our foreign policy. Also, Croatia has an articulated foreign policy both in terms of geographic and geopolitical priorities and in terms of special foreign policy projects and in multilateral organisations."

Pusic went on to say that upon Croatia's EU accession, "we will no longer be just observers but have the possibility to contribute to the design and realisation of European projects, in which I see a big chance for Croatia's diplomacy and for Croatia as a state."

"Through the EU membership, the close connection between our foreign and internal policy will become even more obvious and important. In that context, our diplomatic missions outside the EU will become increasingly important, since premiers and ministers within the EU meet once a month," Pusic said.

She went on to say that Croatia's EU accession would not benefit only Croatia but the entire region. "I have often said that this enlargement is an enlargement with a task and this task is to work together with the region on the strengthening of the region's European integration and stabilisation."

Pusic announced that she would meet with Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele in Brussels on January 14, after which she will go to Santiago de Chile for an EU-Latin America summit. This month she will also attend a regular meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.