"Give Serbia timeframe for opening talks"

BRUSSELS Croatian FM Vesna Pusic said in Brussels that Serbia should get a rough timeframe for when it could open accession talks with the EU. In a statement for the press after a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Pusic said neighboring countries needed to support each other's progress toward the EU. "Give Serbia timeframe for opening talks" She stressed that along with the high criteria, positive political messages were also important, Croatian media have reported. It always helps to come out with positive political messages if you want to help those political elites that are pro-European and pro-reform, said Pusic. Reacting to statements from Serbian officials who said justice for the victims of Croatian military and police 1995 Operation Storm was important for the relations between the two countries, she said justice needed to be done on all sides. Croatia and Serbia want to start functioning in segments that are easier first and will move on to the more difficult issues later, said Pusic, adding that Croatia has spent 12 years in the European reform process. It must have communication with all countries in the region and it understands the importance of this, she added. (Beta, file) Tanjug

"Give Serbia timeframe for opening talks"

She stressed that along with the high criteria, positive political messages were also important, Croatian media have reported.

It always helps to come out with positive political messages if you want to help those political elites that are pro-European and pro-reform, said Pusić.

Reacting to statements from Serbian officials who said justice for the victims of Croatian military and police 1995 Operation Storm was important for the relations between the two countries, she said justice needed to be done on all sides.

Croatia and Serbia want to start functioning in segments that are easier first and will move on to the more difficult issues later, said Pusić, adding that Croatia has spent 12 years in the European reform process. It must have communication with all countries in the region and it understands the importance of this, she added.