Sanader: Croatia’s Entry into NATO and Completion of EU Negotiations Ahead

For Croatia, 2009 is exceptionally important as it faces entry into NATO and the completion of negotiations for accession to the European Union, and Croatian membership in the EU should not depend on the border dispute with Slovenia, which should not be resolved politically, but before an international court, said Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader on Thursday in Rome.

"This will fulfill our dream from about twenty years ago, namely that as an independent state, Croatia becomes a full member of these democratic Euro-Atlantic associations," said Sanader in a speech he delivered to professors, students, and guests at the "La Sapienza" University in Rome. Speaking about Croatia’s path towards NATO and the European Union, the Croatian Prime Minister asserted that Croatia cannot accept that EU membership depends on an open bilateral border issue with Slovenia."These are two different processes that must not be mixed," said Sanader, adding that Slovenia entered the EU with the same open question.

According to him, if Slovenia could enter the European Union with the same open question, he sees no reason why Croatia could not. After all, he added, the European Union was established precisely so that borders would no longer be a place of conflict, but a place of cooperation."We do not accept any political drawing of borders. The border issue should be resolved by the logic of law before an international court," emphasized Sanader.

In response to a question from those present, Sanader once again expressed confidence that Croatia will become a NATO member on April 3 at the summit in Strasbourg and Kehl. The "La Sapienza" University in Rome is one of the largest in Europe, with around 150,000 students attending it. Before Sanader’s speech, the rector of the University of Zagreb, Aleksa Bjeliš, and the rector of "La Sapienza", Luigi Fratti, signed an agreement on cooperation between the two universities. (Hina)