OSCE Mission Head and Croatian PM discuss key OSCE and EU issues

ZAGREB, 14 January 2004 - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia, Ambassador Peter Semneby, today met the newly-elected Prime Minister of Croatia, Dr. Ivo Sanader, to discuss how best the OSCE Mission can support Croatia in fulfilling the issues related to its mandate and help the country in its path towards European Union integration.

Ambassador Semneby welcomed the efforts made so far by the new Government in key areas related to both the EU and the OSCE agenda including refugee return, minority issues and regional co-operation. He stressed that the role of the OSCE Mission should be seen as one of partnership with the Croatian Government and highlighted the synergy between the OSCE Mission's mandate and the EU agenda.

Prime Minister Sanader outlined the programme and the priority of his Government and gave a substantial account of his meetings with EU officials over the past week.

The meeting, which was the first in its kind after the election of the new Croatian Government, was also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister, Jadranka Kosor, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Miomir Zuzul and the Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission, Ambassadror Robert W. Becker.