Brussels, 14/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - On the fringe of the Council session, the EU foreign ministers met Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan. This allowed them, as Portuguese Council President Jaime Gama said, to "welcome a democratic Croatia". During the press conference that punctuated the meeting, Mr Gama pointed out that the time had come to "set up a joint consultative task force to pave the way for constant monitoring" of progress achieved in the country, as well as sending the Troika, which will be done "a soon as possible". This exercise at rapprochement would find its "peak in a feasibility study" that will be asked of the Commission in view, in the long term, of reaching a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
The High Representative Javier Solana believed that the changes that had occurred in Zagreb were "important or the Croat people and for the region as a whole", as they prove that "changes are possible under the right conditions" (allusion to Belgrade: Ed.). He then "hammered in the nail" regarding: a) Bosnia. "Croatia has enormous responsibilities here", said Mr. Solana, recalling that the EU was not wholly satisfied with the action the previous Croatian authorities had conducted. "The new government is aware of the fact and will help us", Mr. Solana assured; b) the refugees towards which the Racan Government intends showing a new attitude, notably be encouraging their return ("We shall help you", he concluded). For his part, Mr. Patten confirmed that he would be going to Zagreb on Friday to attend the swearing in of the new President and that a technical mission would be sent to begin the feasibility study. He said that the programme of the new government was "good for the Croat people, for Europe and for the region as a whole".
"Very satisfied" with his talks with the Fifteen, Ivica Racan welcomed the "broad support" for his governmental programme. Aware of the important role Croatia can play "for the stability of the region", he stressed his country's will to have "good neighbourly relations" and exclaimed: "We want an independent, free and democratic Bosnia-Herzegovina". The changes foreseen must enable Croatia to overcome the economic crisis (particularly through the pursuit of privatisation), reinforce democratic institutions, depoliticise the police and army, develop free media and allow refugees to enter the country irrespective of their ethnic background (which implies adoption of a law prohibiting discrimination). The scope of this programme is such that "it is important for Croatia to receive aid -material and financial- to bring it to successful conclusion", said Mr Racan, observing that implementation of the government programme would enable Croatia to "draw closer to the EU rapidly".