EU: Croatia hopes to complete negotiations and become a fully-fledged member of the European Union in less than three years. Its prime minister, Ivo Sanader, also told The Irish Times yesterday that he wants Croatian citizens to be in a position to participate in the next round of European Parliament elections in June, 2009.
Stressing the political dangers of setting target dates because of the possibility they would not be met, he said it was "a very ambitious goal but it would be great if we could achieve it".
It was understandable there was "enlargement fatigue" in the existing member states but he believed the results of the French and Dutch referendums were primarily due to disaffection on domestic issues that had nothing to do with the EU, Dr Sanader said.
European history was characterised by war, bloodshed and genocide: "If you want to have a secure, peaceful and prosperous future for all citizens and states of Europe, the only way is European integration. There is no alternative to this."
Dr Sanader acknowledged there had been a "sticking point" for Croatia over Gen Ante Gotovina, who was sought by the Hague tribunal for four years on war crimes charges until he was arrested last December in the Canary Islands.
"The EU said full co-operation with the Hague tribunal was a precondition for starting negotiations," he said.
"That was also my position, not only because of the requirement of the EU but because of the rule of law. In Croatia we also have a constitutional law on co-operation with the Hague tribunal which means that all indictees should stand trial."
Speaking earlier to the Forum on Europe, he pointed out that all government and opposition parties in the Croatian parliament were united in an alliance for Europe which had ensured that Croatia's EU integration remains "above the internal political debate".
Dr Sanader also had a meeting with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
In a statement afterwards, Mr Ahern said he congratulated the prime minister on Croatia's progress in EU accession negotiations.
The EU decision last October to enter into talks represented "a positive development for the other countries of the region", the Taoiseach added.