 |
Tudjman Complains that EU Favors Slovenia, Snubs Croatia
By Mark Heinrich
Slovenia, which declared independence from Yugoslavia at the same time as Croatia in 1991, is a Council member already and on June 10 signed an association accord with the EU, two big steps towards admission to the Western club of democracies. Tudjman said that, while Slovenia was nearing EU membership, Croatia was being forced to remain mired in the "Balkans," a derogatory term in Croatia since it seceded from Yugoslavia.
In a speech carried by state television, he said it was "no invention" that the West was trying to re-create a new kind of Yugoslavia, from which four of six federal republics seceded in 1991-92 to escape Serb domination. "I have not made this up. Over the past fortnight, I have held talks with the most weighty and important representatives of the European Union and NATO. They are telling us that it is necessary for us to return to that Yugo," Tudjman said.
"...'No', they say, 'We do not want to see a recreation of Yugoslavia, but we would like Croatia to be in the Balkan region.' They would like to push Croatia back to where it does not belong. Throughout its history right up to World War One, Croatia was a central European and Mediterranean country," the 74-year-old Croatian leader said.
Both the Slovene and Croatian governments, keen to wipe out their despised past in communist Yugoslavia, repeatedly emphasise that they are not "Balkan" countries. But unlike Croatia, Slovenia has never had conflict with an ethnic minority, stayed out of Bosnia's war and has made major progress towards democracy, diplomats say.
EU officials acknowledge that Slovenia is on a different, individual course towards EU links, reflecting its advanced economy and commitment to democracy. EU Commission President Jacques Santer told Tudjman that the countries of former Yugoslavia must normalise relations before they could expect to advance into the EU.
The Council set a number of conditions last week for Croatian membership. They include support for free elections to
help reunify Bosnia, an end to prosecutions of independent media, permission for minority Serb war refugees to return and for an opposition majority to appoint the mayor of Zagreb. |
ZAGREB, June 15 (Reuters) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman said on Saturday the European Union was unfairly cold shouldering Croatia while opening its doors to another former Yugoslav republic, Slovenia. He expressed anger at a decision by the Council of Europe to put Croatia's bid for membership on hold. The Council cited what it called authoritarianism and a lack of respect for civil and minority rights by Tudjman's nationalist government.
Berserkistan, June 10 · Slovenia Set to Become European Union Member
Berserkistan, June 7 · Croatia Must Surrender War Criminals to Join the Council
Berserkistan, May 25 · Tudjman: Euro Status Conditions are 'Humiliating'
Berserkistan, May 17 · After European Snub, Croatia Promises More Democracy
Berserkistan, May 16 · Europe's Rejection of Croatia Dismays Croats Seeking Democracy
Berserkistan, May 9 · Croatia Blamed for Human Rights Abuses
SLOVENIA
Slovenia at a Glance
Slovenia Weekly Government Public
Relations & Media Office
SloWWWenia Guide to Virtual Slovenia
Ljubljana A Guide to Slovenia’s Capital
Slovenia Office of the President
Slovenia Embassies and Consulates
CROATIA
Croatia Croatia's natural attractions highlighted here
Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina Information Statistics, Maps, Archives
Croatia’s Islands Explore the Croatian Adriatic
Vladimir's Homepage Croatian and Macedonian interests
Web Sites in Croatia A Complete and Comprehensive List
Berserkistan is a world news service of Michael Linder Productions, Inc.
©1995-1996, All Rights Reserved