Talks start with Croatia
When Carla del Ponte, General Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), told EU foreign ministers on Monday that, in her view, the government of Croatia has been fully co-operating with the ICTY "for a few...
When Carla del Ponte, General Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), told EU foreign ministers on Monday that, in her view, the government of Croatia has been fully co-operating with the ICTY "for a few weeks now" it became clear that the last major hurdle to the start of membership negotiations with Croatia had been overcome.
The EU had always said that it is ready to begin membership talks with Zagreb "immediately" once the Croatian government has met the last condition - that of full co-operation with the Court in The Hague.
The problem with Croatia centres on General Ante Gotovina, wanted in connection with crimes against humanity and who is still at large. Addressing the Task Force on Croatia, Mrs del Ponte explained:
"According to sources outside of the Croatian government, (General) Gotovina is in Croatia or in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and there are indications that he may hide in a Franciscan monastery. My visit to the Vatican on July 1 only confirmed the lack of willingness by the Holy See to co-operate with the ICTY.
"The key question is whether the Croatian government could do more to locate and arrest Ante Gotovina. Judging by the statements of Croatia's most senior officials, by the considerable resources engaged in the operation, and by the orders given to the various services, Croatia's government appears to possess the political will to locate, arrest and transfer the fugitive."
If Croatia fails to deliver on this promise it is axiomatic that negotiations should be halted right away. What counts for Turkey is equally applicable to Croatia. Our appeal is simple: do not under-estimate Croatia. The country was responsible for some of the worst atrocities committed in the Balkans about a decade ago.
Croatian democracy is a recent affair, more fragile than democracy in Turkey. Ethnic cleansing of minorities was state policy. Many people in Croatia do not want their country to join the EU and that is significantly different from the situation in Turkey.