ZAGREB, 9 Oct (Hina) – Lasting reconciliation is key to the stability of Southeast Europe, on which the security and prosperity of the entire continent depend, Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said on Thursday at a Berlin Process meeting in Northern Ireland.
In his address in Belfast, Grlić Radman emphasised the need to make additional efforts to achieve lasting reconciliation, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“Issues of the past and the legacy of war must be fully resolved, which includes clarifying the remaining cases of missing persons and engaging in meaningful cooperation in prosecuting war crimes without discrimination and in line with international standards,” he said.
“Economic growth and the stability of the Western Balkans are crucial for the prosperity and security of the whole of Europe,” the minister added.
Grlić Radman said Croatia would continue to “strongly support regional cooperation, infrastructure projects and investment,” while highlighting “the importance of energy diversification and Croatia’s role as a factor of security and an energy hub.”
He said Croatia “remains committed to constructive dialogue with its neighbours to resolve all outstanding issues on the basis of mutual respect and international law,” stressing that it was “essential to uphold the Dayton Peace Agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly by ensuring the equality of Croats as one of the country’s three constituent peoples.”
The meeting of foreign ministers of the Berlin Process participants was part of the final events under the United Kingdom’s chairmanship. The summit of heads of state and government within the Berlin Process will be held in London on 22 October.
Launched in 2014 at Germany’s initiative, the Berlin Process brings together the six Western Balkan countries along with partner governments from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and the UK, as well as representatives of EU institutions, international financial organisations and civil society.
The meeting was hosted by UKВ Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Following the session, German Minister Johann Wadephul said the Berlin Process was a “catalyst” for the EU accession of Western Balkan countries and “more important than ever.”
“People are starting to lose faith that they will become part of the EU in the near future. We cannot afford that, because it would risk a return to past hostilities and open the door to greater influence from Russia and China,” he warned.
