Croatia is trying to be model for other southeast European countries, says Kosor

POMORIE, May 21 (Hina) - Addressing a summit meeting of the South East European Co-operation Process (SEECP) in Pomorie, Bulgaria on Wednesday, Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said that the region should not got stuck in the memories of its hard past but that southeastern European countries should try bring the region into a rich and prosperous Europe.

We must tirelessly combat corruption which is still deeply rooted in some of our societies, and we must try eradicate poverty and social exclusion, she said.

It is encouraging that European partners support the expansion of the European Union into Croatia as well as other southeastern European countries, she said.

In 2008, Croatia made strong progress in EU accession negotiations as well as in a series of key reforms. We are sparing no effort to set a model for other countries in the region, Kosor said in her speech at the 11th SEECP summit, held in the Bulgarian sea resort of Pomorie.

I would like to wish a success to our Turkish friends on their road towards the European bloc and to congratulate countries that have signed Stabilisation and Association Agreements (with EU), she said adding that her country would continue offering assistance to other aspirants for EU membership.

As regards the issue of Kosovo, Kosor said that Croatia was aware the matter should be treated with great delicacy and that Zagreb would keep advocating a political dialogue and a balanced approach being convinced that European and Euro-Atlantic prospects serve as the best enouragement for efforts to solve those outstanding issues.



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